Devitalization and recellularization of cartilage

A process of recellularizing a devitalized cartilage graft with viable cells in vitro to render the tissue vital, comprising seeding recellularizable cells on a devitalized cartilage graft and culturing said cell seeded devitalized cartilage graft;

• and applying a stimuli by
• a. inducing force to facilitate in vitro cell adhesion onto said devitalized cartilage graft;
• b. applying mechanical stimuli;
• c. applying mechanical force to contour said cartilage graft to match a target defect site curvature;
• or
• d. applying chemical stimuli.

A process of recellularizing a devitalized cartilage graft with viable cells in vivo to render the tissue vital, comprising

• a. implanting a devitalized cartilage graft into a recipient's own soft tissue containing progenitor cells or stromal cells and incubating for about 7 days to about 3 months;
• b. retrieving in vivo soft tissue recellularized cartilage graft before implantation;
• c. trimming off excessive fibrous tissue surrounding said recellularized cartilage graft;
• d. optionally rinsing said trimmed and recellularized cartilage graft with an isotonic solution;
• e. implanting said recellularized cartilage graft into a target defect site;
• and
• wherein chemical stimuli are optionally applied to said devitalized cartilage graft before or after implantation into said in vivo soft tissue.

A process of recellularizing a devitalized cartilage graft with viable cells in situ to render the tissue vital, comprising seeding recellularizable cells on a devitalized cartilage graft right before implantation;

• and
• a. inducing force to facilitate cell adhesion onto said devitalized cartilage graft;
• or
• b. applying chemical stimuli.