Nature-Inspired Strategies for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Articular cartilage is devoid of nerves and blood vessels, and its nutrients must be obtained from the joint fluid; therefore, its ability to repair itself is limited. Manufactured materials such as artificial cartilage or synthetic materials are typically used in traditional approaches for knee cartilage repair. However, durability, postimplant rejection, and tissue incompatibility are the problems associated with these materials. In recent decades, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have focused on the development of functional substitutes, particularly those based on naturally inspired biopolymers. This review focuses on sustainably produced biopolymers based on materials derived from natural sources. Furthermore, these materials have many advantages, including low antigenicity, biocompatibility, and degradability. Of course, there are also many challenges associated with natural materials, such as the lack of clinical studies and long-term follow-up data, unstable mechanical properties of the materials, and high demands placed on preparation and molding techniques. In this review, an overview of natural and nature-inspired polymers that are the subject of research to date, as well as their structural designs and product performances is provided. This review provides scientific guidance for enhancing the development of naturally inspired materials for treating cartilage injuries.