Complexity in Modeling of Cartilage Tissue Engineering
Zhou S., Ye H., Cui Z.
Articular cartilage plays an important physiological role and yet lacks self-healing ability. Its related diseases or damages lead to pain and disability. Cartilage tissue engineering aims to restore the lost function, either in vivo or in vitro. It is a complex process but not a black box, partly due to the effort made in mathematical modeling, which helps us obtain rational cognition about this process. This article summarizes modeling works in many fundamental aspects of cartilage tissue engineering, including nutrient supply, cell survival and proliferation, matrix deposition, and mechanical and transport property of engineered cartilage. Finally, difference in bioreactors is also discussed.