New Perspectives on Combination Strategies Using Polymeric Scaffolds and Controlled Drug Delivery for Osteochondral Regeneration

Musculoskeletal conditions have been recognised by European health systems as a significant healthcare challenge for the current decade, due to their high prevalence and the substantial economic and social burden they impose. Among these, articular cartilage degeneration, caused by trauma, ageing, o...

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Authors: Fernández-Villa, Daniel, Asensio, Gerardo, Martín-Saldaña, Sergio, Rojo, Luis
Format: other
Status:Versión aceptada para publicación
Publication Date:2026
Country:España
Institution:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repository:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:digitalcsic_::7548e2702874130ee760ea2c8456ee30
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/429730
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Biomimetic scaffolds
Hydrogels
Osteochondral regeneration
Cartilage
Drug delivery
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spelling New Perspectives on Combination Strategies Using Polymeric Scaffolds and Controlled Drug Delivery for Osteochondral RegenerationFernández-Villa, DanielAsensio, GerardoMartín-Saldaña, SergioRojo, LuisBiomimetic scaffoldsHydrogelsOsteochondral regenerationCartilageDrug deliveryMusculoskeletal conditions have been recognised by European health systems as a significant healthcare challenge for the current decade, due to their high prevalence and the substantial economic and social burden they impose. Among these, articular cartilage degeneration, caused by trauma, ageing, or inflammatory diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis, results in the progressive destruction of the cartilage and subchondral bone at the osteochondral interface. These conditions are a leading cause of disability, particularly in the elderly, and require innovative, multidisciplinary therapeutic strategies. Current clinical approaches for treating OA cartilage focus on symptom management through disease-modifying agents and, in advanced cases, joint replacement surgery. However, the limited intrinsic regenerative capacity of cartilage underscores the urgent need for alternative therapies. Tissue engineering presents a promising approach by combining advanced biomaterials, bioactive molecules, and cell-based strategies to stimulate in situ repair and restore joint function. Recent advances in polymer science and biofabrication technologies, such as electrospinning, cryogelation, and 3D bioprinting, have enabled the development of structurally and functionally tailored scaffolds. These systems aim to replicate the complex zonal architecture and mechanical properties of the osteochondral unit. Moreover, the integration of controlled and smart drug delivery systems into polymeric scaffolds has demonstrated potential to enhance tissue regeneration by modulating the local inflammatory environment and delivering therapeutic agents with spatial and temporal precision. An updated overview of the most significant progress in polymer scaffolds and drug delivery systems for osteochondral regeneration is provided herein. Emphasis is placed on recent strategies for reproducing the hierarchical structure of the osteochondral interface and on the development of platforms, such as hydrogels and micro- and nanoparticles, for the controlled release of cells and bioactive agents, aiming to address key challenges in the treatment of osteoarthritis and related disorders. Finally, attention is also given to emerging smart delivery systems designed to enhance the spatiotemporal precision of therapeutic release.The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Merari Tumin Chevalier for her kind help in improving Figures 2 and 3.Peer reviewedSpringerMartín-Saldaña, Sergio [0000-0002-9506-8483 ]Rojo, Luis [0000-0001-6334-6736 ]Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]202620262026info:eu-repo/semantics/otherhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_3248Postprintinfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/bookParthttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/429730reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSICinstname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)Ingléshttps://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-3-031-80976-7_13-1Síinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:dnet:digitalcsic_::7548e2702874130ee760ea2c8456ee302026-05-22T06:33:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv New Perspectives on Combination Strategies Using Polymeric Scaffolds and Controlled Drug Delivery for Osteochondral Regeneration
title New Perspectives on Combination Strategies Using Polymeric Scaffolds and Controlled Drug Delivery for Osteochondral Regeneration
spellingShingle New Perspectives on Combination Strategies Using Polymeric Scaffolds and Controlled Drug Delivery for Osteochondral Regeneration
Fernández-Villa, Daniel
Biomimetic scaffolds
Hydrogels
Osteochondral regeneration
Cartilage
Drug delivery
title_short New Perspectives on Combination Strategies Using Polymeric Scaffolds and Controlled Drug Delivery for Osteochondral Regeneration
title_full New Perspectives on Combination Strategies Using Polymeric Scaffolds and Controlled Drug Delivery for Osteochondral Regeneration
title_fullStr New Perspectives on Combination Strategies Using Polymeric Scaffolds and Controlled Drug Delivery for Osteochondral Regeneration
title_full_unstemmed New Perspectives on Combination Strategies Using Polymeric Scaffolds and Controlled Drug Delivery for Osteochondral Regeneration
title_sort New Perspectives on Combination Strategies Using Polymeric Scaffolds and Controlled Drug Delivery for Osteochondral Regeneration
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Fernández-Villa, Daniel
Asensio, Gerardo
Martín-Saldaña, Sergio
Rojo, Luis
author Fernández-Villa, Daniel
author_facet Fernández-Villa, Daniel
Asensio, Gerardo
Martín-Saldaña, Sergio
Rojo, Luis
author_role author
author2 Asensio, Gerardo
Martín-Saldaña, Sergio
Rojo, Luis
author2_role author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Martín-Saldaña, Sergio [0000-0002-9506-8483 ]
Rojo, Luis [0000-0001-6334-6736 ]
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Biomimetic scaffolds
Hydrogels
Osteochondral regeneration
Cartilage
Drug delivery
topic Biomimetic scaffolds
Hydrogels
Osteochondral regeneration
Cartilage
Drug delivery
description Musculoskeletal conditions have been recognised by European health systems as a significant healthcare challenge for the current decade, due to their high prevalence and the substantial economic and social burden they impose. Among these, articular cartilage degeneration, caused by trauma, ageing, or inflammatory diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis, results in the progressive destruction of the cartilage and subchondral bone at the osteochondral interface. These conditions are a leading cause of disability, particularly in the elderly, and require innovative, multidisciplinary therapeutic strategies. Current clinical approaches for treating OA cartilage focus on symptom management through disease-modifying agents and, in advanced cases, joint replacement surgery. However, the limited intrinsic regenerative capacity of cartilage underscores the urgent need for alternative therapies. Tissue engineering presents a promising approach by combining advanced biomaterials, bioactive molecules, and cell-based strategies to stimulate in situ repair and restore joint function. Recent advances in polymer science and biofabrication technologies, such as electrospinning, cryogelation, and 3D bioprinting, have enabled the development of structurally and functionally tailored scaffolds. These systems aim to replicate the complex zonal architecture and mechanical properties of the osteochondral unit. Moreover, the integration of controlled and smart drug delivery systems into polymeric scaffolds has demonstrated potential to enhance tissue regeneration by modulating the local inflammatory environment and delivering therapeutic agents with spatial and temporal precision. An updated overview of the most significant progress in polymer scaffolds and drug delivery systems for osteochondral regeneration is provided herein. Emphasis is placed on recent strategies for reproducing the hierarchical structure of the osteochondral interface and on the development of platforms, such as hydrogels and micro- and nanoparticles, for the controlled release of cells and bioactive agents, aiming to address key challenges in the treatment of osteoarthritis and related disorders. Finally, attention is also given to emerging smart delivery systems designed to enhance the spatiotemporal precision of therapeutic release.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026
2026
2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/other
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_3248
Postprint
info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion
dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/bookPart
format other
status_str acceptedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10261/429730
url http://hdl.handle.net/10261/429730
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-3-031-80976-7_13-1
Sí
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
instname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
instname_str Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
reponame_str DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
collection DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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score 15.81155

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