To provide a method for serum-free culture of human cartilage cells and a serum-free culture medium. A method for serum-free culture of cartilage cells, said method comprising: an enzymatic treatment step for treating a human cartilage cell-containing tissue with a protease; an inhibitor-treatment step for, after the enzymatic treatment step, treating the tissue with an inhibitor for the aforesaid protease; and a culture step for, after the inhibitor-treatment step, culturing the tissue in a serum-free culture medium that contains kartogenin and/or SAG, ITS, FGF2 and hydrocortisone. A serum-free culture medium for culturing cartilage cells, said serum-free culture medium containing kartogenin and/or SAG, ITS, FGF2 and hydrocortisone.

A composition, for inducing chondrocyte differentiation or regenerating cartilage tissue or both, includes exosomes derived from stem cells differentiating into chondrocytes.

The present invention provides new protease resistant polypeptides, as well as compositions and methods for treating, ameliorating or preventing conditions related to joint damage, including acute joint injury and arthritis.

A process providing a method to create 3D scaffolds using nano-scale fibers, comprising: deposition and alignment of a plurality of electrospun fiber layers on a substrate; application of a photosensitive biomedical polymer liquid to each fiber layer deposited on said substrate; deposition and cross-alignment of a plurality of electrospun fiber layers on said substrate; retaining said polymer liquid in place using said cross-aligned fiber layers; curing said polymer liquid on top of each fiber layer using UV light.

To provide a method for serum-free culture of human cartilage cells and a serum-free culture medium. A method for serum-free culture of cartilage cells, said method comprising: an enzymatic treatment step for treating a human cartilage cell-containing tissue with a protease; an inhibitor-treatment step for, after the enzymatic treatment step, treating the tissue with an inhibitor for the aforesaid protease; and a culture step for, after the inhibitor-treatment step, culturing the tissue in a serum-free culture medium that contains kartogenin and/or SAG, ITS, FGF2 and hydrocortisone. A serum-free culture medium for culturing cartilage cells, said serum-free culture medium containing kartogenin and/or SAG, ITS, FGF2 and hydrocortisone.

Methods of treating osteoarthritis using protocatechuic acid (PCA) injected into an osteoarthritis joint are provided.

The present invention provides for compositions and constructs for craniofacial reconstruction implants, and methods for making and using same. Specific embodiments provide for a biocompatible scaffold having an auricular shape and a permanent bendable framework within the scaffold, wherein the permanent bendable framework allows deformation and return to pre-deformation shape, and thus maintains the auricular shape of the scaffold.

Disclosed is a cell which enables the reproduction of a cartilage tissue and has a proliferative ability. Also disclosed is a technique for providing a cell supply source which can be used in a definitive treatment of osteochondrosis deformans. A chondrocyte-like cell which has the same properties as those of a chondrocyte and can proliferate can be produced by selecting a combination of an Myc family gene and/or a Klf family gene and a SOX9 gene and introducing the combination into a somatic cell. The chondrocyte-like cell can be used for a medical purpose of cartilage regeneration.

The present invention provides an isolated population of chondrocyte precursor cells wherein 1% or less of the cells express Oct4, Nanog and/or TRA-1-60, 7% or less of the cells express no collagen II, collagen X, CD105 or Stro-1 and 85% or more of the cells express CBFA1, methods for preparing such cells and uses of chondrocyte cells derived from said precursor cells.

The invention relates to implantable systems for repairing and restoring cartilage. The invention provides methods and products for cartilage repair that use universal chondrocytes. A universal cell line includes cells such as universal chondrocytes that are not immunogenic or allergenic and can be grown in products suitable for use in a number of different people. Use of the universal chondrocytes allows for new processes and products. Where prior art autologous neocartilage constructs required many small reactors (e.g., at least one culture dish per patient to grow one 34 mm disc per patient), using a universal cell line allows, for example, one large batch of cartilage or neocartilage to be made under uniform conditions.