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REVIEW ARTICLE

Reconstructing intra-articular cell communication networks: Bionic design and research progress of cartilage organoids

Neng Lai1† ,  Siyu Fan2† ,  Haoshaqiang Zhang3* ,  Yuling Li1,4*
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1 Department of Orthopedics, Laboratory of Biological Tissue Engineering and Digital Medicine, Institute of Nanomedicine Innovation and Translational Research, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
2 Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
3 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China
4 Biotechnology Innovation Drug Application and Transformation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
†These authors contributed equally to this work.
OR, 026110017 https://doi.org/10.36922/OR026110017
Received: 11 March 2026 | Revised: 23 April 2026 | Accepted: 28 April 2026 | Published online: 22 May 2026
© 2026 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease characterized by progressive degeneration of articular cartilage, with onset and progression strongly associated with dysregulation of complex intracellular communication networks within the joint. Existing therapeutic strategies struggle to precisely regulate cell–cell interactions within the microenvironment, and current in vitro research models still exhibit limitations in simulating multicellular composition, dynamic stimuli, and the natural tissue environment. Organoids, as emerging bionic three-dimensional models, offer a novel approach to reconstructing intercellular communication within joint cavities. In this review, we aimed to summarize advances in the intercellular interactions, construction strategies, and potential applications of cartilage organoids. We discuss the communication networks between chondrocytes, synovial cells, immune cells, and subchondral osteoblasts. Moreover, we analyze the various components and construction techniques for cartilage organoids and explore the potential applications of cartilage organoids in disease modeling, drug screening, and regenerative medicine. We explore innovative directions such as artificial intelligence and integrated organoids, aiming to provide theoretical guidance for advancing cartilage organoids toward higher bionic fidelity and clinical translation.

Keywords
Cartilage organoids
Intercellular communication
Extracellular matrix
Osteoarthritis
Regenerative medicine
Funding
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82472404), Special Research Project for Chronic Disease of Sichuan Medical Association (2024HR139), Special Program for Regional Collaborative Innovation of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region— Science and Technology Assistance to Xinjiang Project (2026E01047), Research Innovation Team for Degenerative Joint Diseases and Regenerative Medicine of North Sichuan Medical College (CBYTD-2025A01), and Research Project of the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College (2023-2ZD001, 2024JB001, 2025MSZK001).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare they have no competing interests.
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