Advancing tendon regeneration through the development of bio-stimulating tissue engineering approaches

Abstract

Tendon tissue engineering (TE) requires tailoring scaffolds designs

and properties to the anatomical and functional requirements of

tendons located in different regions of the body. Cell sourcing is also of

utmost importance as tendon cells are scarce. Recently, we have found

that it is possible to direct the tenogenic differentiation of Amniotic

fluid and Adipose tissue derived stem cells (hAFSCs and hASCs), and

also that there are hASCs subpopulations that might be more prone to

tenogenic differentiation. Nevertheless, biochemical stimulation may

not be enough to develop functional TE substitutes for a tissue that is

known to be highly dependent on mechanical loading.