## 1 Introduction  
Cartilage damage is a significant clinical concern due to its limited self-repair capacity, primarily attributed to the absence of blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves within the cartilage matrix [1; 2]. This avascular nature restricts the supply of essential nutrients and growth factors, impairing the natural healing process. Consequently, even minor injuries can progress to degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis, emphasizing the urgent need for effective therapeutic strategies to promote cartilage regeneration and restore joint function [1; 3]. Numerous treatment methods have been researched and clinically applied to treat cartilage damage, including non-pharmacogical treatments and pharmaceutical and surgical interventions [4; 5]. Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) has emerged as one of the most effective methods [6; 7]. ACI utilizes a patient's chondrocytes and a periosteal patch taken from the shinbone to repair damaged cartilage, providing a viable solution for restoring cartilage structure and function while minimizing the risk of immune rejection [8; 9]. Post-surgery, a new cartilage layer with properties akin to hyaline cartilage with similar biological characteristics to normal cartilage forms [9; 10; 11]. However, a notable drawback of the periosteal patch is its susceptibility to graft hypertrophy and inadequate sealing, which can lead to the loss of a significant portion of the injected chondrocytes, thereby limiting the overall efficacy of the procedure [12]. Various types of adhesive membranes have been explored in ACI to address the limitations associated with periosteal patches harvested from the patient's shinbone in ACI procedures. For instance, bilayer collagen membranes have been investigated for their potential to improve cell retention and support tissue integration [13; 14]. Yet, a significant challenge with collagen-based scaffolds is their rapid degradation rate, which may not align with the time required for the differentiation and maturation of the implanted chondrocytes, thereby compromising the structural integrity essential for effective cartilage regeneration [15]. As a promising alternative that could potentially eliminate the need for periosteum patches, extracellular matrix (ECM)-based biomimetic membranes have been identified as optimal materials to substitute collagen scaffolds. Their inherent composition allows them to retain cytokines, growth factors, and other functional proteins, facilitating a conducive environment for tissue regeneration [16]. The ECM is the acellular component found in connective tissue with unique compositions tailored to each tissue type. It comprises a complex, highly organized three-dimensional network of macromolecules, including fibrous proteins such as collagens and glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-based components [17]. Owing to an intricate and meticulously organized three-dimensional network, ECMs serve as communication liaisons for cells present in tissues and organs by orchestrating various inside-out or outside-in signal commands, thereby directing tissue morphogenesis, development, and homeostasis through the regulation of cellular physiology, growth, survival, differentiation, and adhesion [18]. Despite scientists' relentless efforts to synthesize ECM-based materials, natural ECMs are claimed to be superior in biocompatibility, biodegradability, and potential physiological functions, including selective cell adhesion [15]. [PERSON] et al. showed that the cell-derivedECM scaffold has a highly porous structure suitable for chondrocyte attachment and proliferation. As a cartilage-derived scaffold, its degradation is balanced by synthesizing new ECMs [19]. Consequently, due to its unmatched complex bioactivity, the decellularized tissue-derived ECM plays an inevitable role as one of the most effective biomaterials in clinical applications [17]. Relevant studies have shown that immature cartilage progenitor cells have been investigated as a potential cell source for regenerative medicine [20,21].