Tissue Engineered Nasal Cartilage for Regeneration of Articular Cartilage

Inclusion Criteria: * Size of the defect on the femoral cartilage:one or two symptomatic lesion(s) grade III-IV from 2 cm2 to 8 cm2 at the femoral condyle and/or trochlea * Other: * Age: 18-55 years * Written informed consent by the patient Exclusion Criteria: * Defect: * Lesions smaller than 2cm2 or greater than 8cm2 * Total area of all lesions bigger than 8cm2 * Lesions other than on the femoral condyle and/or trochlea * Any evidence of the following diseases in the target joint: septic arthritis; inflammatory joint disease; gout; recurrent episodes of pseudogout; Paget disease of bone; ochronosis; acromegaly; hemochromatosis;Wilson disease; primary osteochondromatosis; heritable disorders; collagen gene mutations * Presence of a clinically relevant cartilage lesion on the patella (second lesion) * Patellofemoral cartilage lesion * Presence of relevant complex knee injuries affecting bone and/or ligaments * Osteochondritis dissecans: recent (within 1 year before baseline); depth of lesion \>0.5 cm; subchondral sclerosis * Advanced osteoarthritis (as defined by Radiographic Atlas of Osteoarthritis, grade 2-3) * Varus or valgus malalignment exceeding 5° (kissing lesions out) * Medical history: * gravidity (Pregnancy) * breast feeding * presence of multiple severe allergies (including porcine collagen, streptomycin and penicillin) * Osteoarthritis * Current diagnosis of osteomyelitis * Any clinically significant or symptomatic vascular or neurologic disorder of the lower extremities * A blood result showing liver enzymes (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase) of more than 2 times the upper limit of normal or any other result that in the clinical investigator's mind is clinically important * C-reactive protein level greater than 10 mg/L * Uncontrolled diabetes * Renal insufficiency * Previous pacemaker implantation * Any concomitant painful or disabling disease of the spine, hips, or lower limbs that would interfere with evaluation of the afflicted knee * Mosaicplasty (osteochondral autograft transfer system) * Microfracture performed less than 1 year before baseline * Received hyaluronic acid intra-articular injections into the afflicted knee within the last 6 months of baseline Meniscal transplant (previous/present) * Meniscal suture with meniscal arrows ipsilaterally (present or previous if not resorbed) * Taking specific osteoarthritis drugs, such as chondroitin sulfate, diacerein, n-glucosamine, piascledine, and capsaicin, within 2 weeks of the baseline visit * Corticosteroid therapy by systemic or intra-articular route within the last month of baseline or intramuscular or oral corticosteroids within the last 2 weeks of baseline * Chronic use of anticoagulants * Patients with human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis, or syphilis * Malignancy * Alcohol and drug (medication) abuse * Poor general health condition as judged by investigator * Body mass index \>35 kg/m2 * Medication:chronic treatment with steroids or growth factors (immunomodulatory drugs) * Other: * Participation in concurrent clinical trials * Participation in a previous clinical trial within 1 year