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            Osteoarthritis is a major cause of disability and pain for patients in the United
               States. Treatments for this degenerative disease represent a significant challenge
               considering the poor regenerative capacity of adult articular cartilage. Tissue-engineering
               techniques have advanced over the last two decades such that cartilage-like tissue
               can be cultivated in the laboratory for implantation. Even so, major challenges remain
               for creating fully functional tissue. This review article overviews some of these
               challenges, including overcoming limitations in nutrient supply to cartilage, improving
               in vitro collagen production, improving integration of engineered cartilage with native
               tissue, and exploring the potential for engineering full articular surface replacements.
            
         
         Keywords
biological joint replacement - cartilage - tissue-engineering - nutrient diffusion
            - collagen production