PROTOCOL FOR DIFFERENTIATION OF HUMAN INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS INTO CHONDROCYTES SUITABLE FOR REGENERATIVE THERAPY OF OSTEOARTHRITIS

Purpose (the aim of the study): Primary osteoarthritis is a severe, painful and degenerative joint disease with no disease modifying treatment available. Stem cells and biomaterials provide a potential platform for development of new cell based Advanced Medical Therapy Products (ATMP). Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) hold promise in the field of regenerative medicine as they show high expandability, do not engender immune reactions and allow easy commercialization and standardization as well as eliminate any ethical concerns.