# Models of cartilage repair with autologous mesenchymal stem cells seeded on scaffolds: a systematic narrative review

## TL;DR

This review explores how using a patient's own stem cells on scaffolds can improve cartilage repair, but more standardized research is needed for clinical use.

## Contribution

The paper identifies BM-MSCs combined with scaffolds as a promising approach for cartilage repair and highlights the need for standardized protocols.

## Key findings

- MSC therapies improved cartilage regeneration and matrix organization compared to controls.
- BM-MSCs combined with biodegradable scaffolds were the most effective for tissue engineering.
- Standardized protocols and long-term studies in large animals are needed for clinical translation.

## Abstract

Focal post-traumatic cartilage lesions frequently progress to early osteoarthritis, highlighting the limited regenerative capacity of adult articular cartilage. Compared to native tissue, conventional surgical interventions often produce fibrocartilage with inferior biomechanical properties, representing a persistent therapeutic challenge. This review assessed preclinical studies exploring cartilage repair strategies using autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in animal models. MSCs therapies demonstrated superior cartilage regeneration, matrix organization, and integration into the surrounding tissue compared to the control groups. The most efficient source was found to be bone marrow - derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) combined with biodegradable scaffolds, suggesting their potential in tissue engineering applications. Despite methodological heterogeneity across studies - including variations in stem cells sources, implant types, and deliver strategies - cumulative evidence strongly supports the regenerative potential of autologous MSCs for cartilage repair. Current research identifies key knowledge gaps, including the absence of standardized experimental protocols and limited insight into the mechanisms of tissue remodeling and maturation. Collectively, these gaps limit direct clinical translation, highlighting the need for further, standardized studies in large animal models with long-term follow-up (>2 years) to assess integration, functional maturation, and the full regenerative potential of the repair tissue.