Magnetic Nanomaterials: Advanced Tools for Cartilage Extracellular Matrix Regeneration

After decades of basic, translational, and clinical research, cartilage regeneration therapies are still anticipated to impact the clinical landscape consistently. However, biological joint resurfacing and the regeneration of functional, integrated cartilage capable of wholly and permanently restoring joint function is still unavailable. Albeit structurally relatively simple, the cartilage extracellular ma-trix has a complex function in joint organ biomechanics, developmental processes, and adult life tissue turnover, repair, disease, and aging. The intricated cross-talk extracellular matrix-cellular com-ponent and its bidirectional role in maintaining tissue homeostasis are only beginning to be eluci-dated. Magnetic responsive nanomaterials (MNMs) have proven to be versatile tools for drug deliv-ery, scaffold fabrication, alignment, and orienting cell distribution and cell fate. Due to their respon-siveness to an applied magnetic field, MNMs can be remotely actuated for scaffold cell positioning, scaffold fabrication, or the delivery of touchless mechanical stimulation. In addition, MNMs possess excellent biocompatibility and are degradable through cellular iron storage metabolic pathways. Current directions for using MNMs to augment tissue engineering that recommends them as es-sential tools for fabricating bio-functional cartilage grafts are presented and discussed.