Figure 1.

Evolution of cartilage repair and bioprinting of cartilage. Additive manufacturing techniques and in particular bioprinting are enabling to produce patient-specific, complex architectures that mimic the composition of articular cartilage. With the development of novel bioactive bio-inks and the combination of different 3D bioprinting techniques, functional cartilage constructs will be obtained. Optimized and mature bioprinted grafts will have to meet high quality standards in order to be used as clinical devices for cartilage and joint healing. TKA = total knee arthroplasty; ACI = autologous chondrocyte implantation; MACI = matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation; iPSC = induced pluripotent stem cell; MEW = melt electrospinning writing.