Magnetic hydrogel applications in articular cartilage tissue engineering

Abstract Articular cartilage defects afflict millions of individuals worldwide, presenting a significant challenge due to the tissue's limited self‐repair capability and anisotropic nature. Hydrogel‐based biomaterials have emerged as promising candidates for scaffold production in artificial cartilage construction, owing to their water‐rich composition, biocompatibility, and tunable properties. Nevertheless, conventional hydrogels typically lack the anisotropic structure inherent to natural cartilage, impeding their clinical and preclinical applications. Recent advancements in tissue engineering (TE) have introduced magnetically responsive hydrogels, a type of intelligent hydrogel that can be remotely controlled using an external magnetic field. These innovative materials offer a means to create the desired anisotropic architecture required for successful cartilage TE. In this review, we first explore conventional techniques employed for cartilage repair and subsequently delve into recent breakthroughs in the application and utilization of magnetic hydrogels across various aspects of articular cartilage TE.