Advances In Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Transplantation: A Clinically Relevant Delivery Vehicle For Controlled Release Into Osteoarthritic Joints

Purpose: The therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) transplantation in treating osteoarthritis (OA) has been studied for decades. While the precise therapeutic mechanism is unclear, it is hypothesized to be a mix of paracrine-mediated mechanisms and differentiation of transplanted MSCs. Despite extensive research, intra-articular (IA) injections of MSCs often fail in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Major limitations of traditional MSC transplantation include high levels of cell death and low cell retention in the joint. To address these limitations, the use of biomaterials for encapsulation and delivery of MSCs has become increasingly popular.