Regenerative potential of human Amniotic Membrane homogenate in Articular Cartilage repair: a preliminary in vitro study

Articular cartilage defects related to osteoarthritis represent a persistent clinical challenge due to the tissue’s poor intrinsic healing capacity. Current treatment strategies often result in suboptimal repair, leading to long-term joint degeneration. Regenerative medicine offers new therapeutic avenues, including the use of bioactive biological materials to enhance tissue repair. This thesis investigates the potential of human amniotic membrane homogenate (AMH) as a biologically active supplement in cartilage regeneration. The amniotic membrane, known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and regenerative properties, was processed into a homogenate and evaluated for its therapeutic potential in cartilage repair applications. In the experimental part of the study, AMH was prepared from human amniotic membranes and analyzed for growth factors and cytokines content by ELISA. After that, AMH pro-proliferative effects were evaluated through cell viability assays (MTT) on multipotent stem cell cultures and their pro-regenerative capacity was assessed by wound-healing assay. Collected data highlighted the biological potential of AMH as a therapeutic supplement in regenerative approaches to cartilage damage. While preliminary, the findings contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of placental-derived materials in tissue engineering.