Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

 1. Grade II–III osteoarthritis, identified by two different observers, according to the Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale

 2. Hematological and biochemical analyses with no significant alterations that contraindicate intervention

 3. Aged 18 to 70 years old, males or females

 4. Diagnostic course of knee osteoarthritis for more than 6 months and less than 10 years

 5. An average pain intensity of grade 3 or more (less than 8) on a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS)

 6. Informed written consent provided by the patient

Exclusion criteria

 1. History of one or more drug allergies and two or more food allergies

 2. Obesity with a body mass index > 30 (calculated as mass in kg/height in m²)

 3. Neoplasia

 4. Signs of infection or positive serology for HIV, hepatitis, or syphilis

 5. Congenital or acquired diseases leading to significant knee deformities that may interfere with cell application or the interpretation of results

 6. Pregnancy or breastfeeding

 7. Immunosuppression

 8. Intra-articular injection of any drug during the previous 3 months

 9. Participation in another clinical trial or treatment with another investigational product within 30 days prior to inclusion in the study

 10. Other conditions that may, according to medical criteria, discourage participation in the study