In Vivo Chondrogenesis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Photopolymerized Hydrogel

Surgical options for cartilage reconstruction can be significantly improved through advances in cartilage tissue engineering, whereby functional tissue replacements are created by growing cells on polymer scaffolds. The objective of this study was to use a photopolymerizable hydrogel to implant bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells subcutaneously in a minimally invasive manner and promote cartilage tissue formation by the cells in vivo.