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 to create biologically active substrates that mimic these matrices and target cell behaviour for a desired tissue engineering application. Indeed, the ability to tune their mechanical, structural, and biochemical properties provides a framework to recapitulate native tissues. This review explores how hydrogels have been engineered to harness the chondrogenic response of stem cells for the repair of damaged cartilage tissue. The signalling processes involved in hydrogel-driven chondrogenesis are also discussed, identifying critical pathways that should be taken into account during hydrogel design.

细胞外基质是高度复杂的微环境，其各种成分汇聚在一起以调节细胞命运。作为由合成或天然材料组成的水溶胀的聚合物网络，水凝胶是创建生物活性底物的理想候选者，这些底物模仿了这些基质并靶向了所需的细胞工程应用的细胞行为。确实，调节它们的机械，结构和生化特性的能力提供了一个概括天然组织的框架。这篇综述探讨了如何设计水凝胶以利用干细胞的软骨生成反应来修复受损的软骨组织。还讨论了水凝胶驱动软骨形成过程中涉及的信号传导过程，确定了水凝胶设计过程中应考虑的关键途径。