Melatonin-Driven Cartilage Regeneration Strategies
Summary
Melatonin has emerged as a multifaceted agent in efforts to restore damaged cartilage. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties mitigate the oxidative stress and inflammatory cues that drive chondrocyte apoptosis and matrix degradation. Beyond its systemic hormonal role, melatonin can be delivered directly to the joint through sustained-release nanoparticles or incorporated into biomimetic scaffolds. By modulating signalling pathways such as NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin and endoplasmic reticulum stress responses, melatonin promotes chondrocyte survival, proliferation and differentiation. Strategies under investigation seek to combine melatonin with advanced materials—ranging from poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanocarriers to three-dimensional printed multilayer constructs—to achieve targeted delivery, prolonged bioavailability and local immune modulation. These approaches aim to rebalance extracellular matrix turnover, enhance cartilage deposition and ultimately restore joint function in osteoarthritis and congenital chondrodysplasias.
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Melatonin-Driven Cartilage Regeneration Strategies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in melatonin-driven cartilage regeneration strategies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Melatonin: Endogenous indoleamine hormone that regulates circadian rhythms and exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects.
Chondrocyte: Specialized cell type responsible for producing and maintaining cartilage extracellular matrix.
Extracellular matrix (ECM): Network of collagen, proteoglycans and glycoproteins providing structural and biochemical support to cartilage.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs): Nano- to micro-scale membranous particles secreted by cells, carrying proteins, lipids and nucleic acids for intercellular communication.
Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA): Biodegradable copolymer widely used to fabricate nanoparticles for controlled drug release.
References
- Three‐dimensional printed biomimetic multilayer scaffolds coordinated with sleep‐related small extracellular vesicles: A strategy for extracellular matrix homeostasis and macrophage polarization to enhance osteochondral regeneration. View (2024).
- Melatonin ameliorates Slc26a2-associated chondrodysplasias by attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis of chondrocytes. Genes & Diseases (2024).
- Therapeutic targets and potential delivery systems of melatonin in osteoarthritis. Frontiers in Immunology (2024).
- Preparation of Melatonin-Loaded Nanoparticles with Targeting and Sustained Release Function and Their Application in Osteoarthritis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Melatonin contributes to the hypertrophic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cell-derived chondrocytes via activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Stem Cell Research & Therapy (2021).
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