Compositions and methods for cartilage repair

A method for facilitating cartilage repair in a patient in need thereof comprising:

• obtaining platelets from the patient;
• preparing a 5% to 40% platelet lysate solution from the platelets, wherein said platelet lysate solution is prepared by freeze-thawing the platelets obtained from the patient;
• obtaining autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow, peripheral blood, or adipose tissue of the patient;
• obtaining one or more chondrogenesis inducing agents;
• and
• administering the MSCs, the 5% to 40% platelet lysate solution and the one or more chondrogenesis inducing agents to a site in the patient in need of cartilage repair;
• wherein the combined administration of the MSCs, the 5% to 40% platelet lysate solution and the one or more chondrogenesis inducing agents facilitates cartilage repair at the site in the patient in need of repair, and wherein at least one of the chondrogenesis inducing agents is a corticosteroid.