The Role of Bioreactors in Ligament and Tendon Tissue Engineering

Curr Stem Cell Res Ther. 2016;11(1):35-40. doi: 10.2174/1574888x10666150904113827.

Abstract

Bioreactors are pivotal to the emerging field of tissue engineering. The formation of neotissue from pluripotent cell lineages potentially offers a source of tissue for clinical use without the significant donor site morbidity associated with many contemporary surgical reconstructive procedures. Modern bioreactor design is becoming increasingly complex to provide a both an expandable source of readily available pluripotent cells and to facilitate their controlled differentiation into a clinically applicable ligament or tendon like neotissue. This review presents the need for such a method, challenges in the processes to engineer neotissue and the current designs and results of modern bioreactors in the pursuit of engineered tendon and ligament.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bioreactors*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Humans
  • Ligaments*
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / physiology
  • Tendons*
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*