Cartilage regeneration without cell transplantation

A method of causing a cell to migrate to a scaffold, the method comprising

• placing a scaffold in fluid communication with a cell,
• wherein the scaffold comprises stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) or a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and
• wherein the scaffold does not comprise a transplanted mammalian cell.

The method of claim 1, wherein the cell is selected from the group consisting of:

• a precursor cell, a stem cell, a chondrogenic precursor cell, a mesenchymal stem cell, an adipose-derived stem cell, and a synovium-derived cell.

The method of claim 1, wherein the scaffold comprises SDF-1 and a TGF-β.

The method of claim 1, wherein the TGF-β is TGF-β3.

The method of claim 1, wherein the SDF-1 or the TGF-β have the amino acid sequence of a human SDF-1 or TGF-β.

The method of claim 1, wherein the SDF-1 or the TGF-6 are present in the scaffold at a concentration independently selected from the group consisting of:

• about 10 ng/gram scaffold to about 30,000 ng/gram scaffold;
• about 100 ng/gram scaffold to about 3,000 ng/gram scaffold;
• and about 200 ng/gram scaffold to about 500 ng/gram scaffold.

The method of claim 1, wherein the scaffold comprises a microsphere, the microsphere comprising the SDF-1 or the TGF-β.

The method of claim 1, wherein the scaffold comprises gelatin microspheres in a layer of cross-linked calcium alginate overlaying a collagen sponge.

The method of claim 1, comprising implanting the scaffold into a mammalian subject or a human subject.

A method of treating a mammalian subject that has a cartilage defect, the method comprising implanting a scaffold at the cartilage defect,

• wherein the scaffold comprises stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) or a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and
• wherein the scaffold does not comprise a transplanted mammalian cell.

A tissue scaffold comprising stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), wherein the tissue scaffold does not comprise a mammalian cell.

A method of making a tissue scaffold capable of recruiting a cell, the method comprising combining stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) or a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and a scaffold.