Cartilage Tissue Engineering : Methods and Protocols

This volume aims to describe clearly and in detail the key practical skills involved in cartilage tissue engineering. Methods are outlined for isolation and expansion of chondrocytes and stem cells; differentiation; synthesis and application of three-dimensional scaffolds; design and operation of bioreactors; in vivo testing of engineered constructs; and molecular and functional analysis of cartilage cells and tissues. Frequently used technologies are covered, as well as more recent advances in inspirational areas such as 'smart' biomaterial development, novel bioreactor design, -omics analysis, and genetic manipulation of matrix synthesis. The key procedures discussed either underpin the progress already achieved in cartilage tissue engineering or are indicative of the direction of future research in the area. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, readily reproducible step-by-step laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Cartilage Tissue Engineering: Methods and Protocols is a useful resource that informs the scientific community about the experimental work covering a broad range of objectives for cartilage synthesis and regeneration.