ChondroGELesis: Hydrogels to harness the chondrogenic potential of stem cells

The extracellular matrix is a highly complex microenvironment, whose various components converge to regulate cell fate. Hydrogels, as water-swollen polymer networks composed by synthetic or natural materials, are ideal candidates create biologically active substrates that mimic these matrices and target behaviour for desired tissue engineering application. Indeed, the ability tune their mechanical, structural, biochemical properties provides framework recapitulate native tissues. This review explores how hydrogels have been engineered harness chondrogenic response of stem cells repair damaged cartilage tissue. signalling processes involved in hydrogel-driven chondrogenesis also discussed, identifying critical pathways should be taken into account during hydrogel design.