Evaluation of a co-culture of rapidly isolated chondrocytes and stem cells seeded on tri-layered collagen-based scaffolds in a caprine osteochondral defect model

•In vivo assessment of biomimetic tri-layered scaffolds seeded with rapidly isolated chondrocyte/stromal cell co-cultures.•Biomimetic scaffold-mediated repair of osteochondral defects demonstrated in cell-seeded and cell-free groups.•No clear benefit from seeding scaffolds with chondrocyte/stromal cell co-cultures.•Cell-free tri-layered scaffolds represent a more prudent clinical approach.