Innovative Strategies to Prevent Cartilage, Meniscus, Ligament, and Bone Degeneration: From Oxidative Stress Modulation to Protective and Regenerative Therapies

Degenerative damage affecting cartilage, meniscus, ligaments, and bone represents a major challenge in both orthopedic surgery and regenerative medicine. Multiple biological and mechanical factors, including oxidative stress, inflammatory processes, mechanical overload, and metabolic imbalances contribute to the progressive degradation of the extracellular matrix, cellular dysfunction, and structural deterioration. While reactive oxygen species (ROS) are recognized as important promoters of cellular damage and tissue degeneration, they act in synergy with inflammatory mediators, degradative enzymatic pathways, and biomechanical stress, making tissue protection and regeneration a complex and multidisciplinary goal.

The combined action of these factors accelerates apoptosis of chondrocytes and tenocytes, loss of glycosaminoglycans, disorganization of collagen networks, alteration of mineralization, and deterioration of biomechanical properties.

This Research Topic aims to gather cutting-edge studies exploring innovative approaches pharmacological, genetic, biomechanical, and biomaterial-based to prevent and reverse musculoskeletal tissue degeneration. Contributions that bridge basic evidence with clinical applications, from modulation of molecular pathways to functional recovery, are particularly welcome.

Areas of particular interest include:

- Targeted modulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory cascades to preserve cellular and matrix integrity;
- Advanced biomaterials and scaffolds for cartilage, meniscus, ligament, and bone repair, including systems functionalized with antioxidant or anti-inflammatory properties;
- Cell-based therapies (e.g., mesenchymal stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells) engineered to resist hostile microenvironments;
- Genetic and molecular interventions (e.g., CRISPR-Cas, siRNA, targeted growth factor delivery) to stimulate anabolic processes and inhibit catabolic pathways;
- Pharmacological approaches — from small molecules to biologics and nanomedicine — designed to protect or restore tissue function;
- Biomechanical and rehabilitative strategies to optimize functional loading, improve repair quality, and prevent recurrence;
- Orthopedic clinical and experimental studies aimed at evaluating, quantifying, and characterizing degeneration of cartilage, meniscus, ligaments, and bone, including the use of advanced imaging techniques and histopathological analysis;
- Translational and clinical studies linking laboratory findings to surgical, rehabilitative, or preventive interventions.

By integrating diverse strategies from oxidative stress modulation to protective and regenerative therapies this Research Topic seeks to promote a comprehensive vision for the prevention and treatment of cartilage, meniscus, ligament, and bone degeneration. Original research articles, reviews, and perspectives are welcome.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: oxidative stress, orthopedic tissue engineering, reactive oxygen species, antioxidant strategies, biomaterials, bone regeneration

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.