Applications of functionally-adapted hydrogels in tendon repair

Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2023 Feb 2:11:1135090. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1135090. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Despite all the efforts made in tissue engineering for tendon repair, the management of tendon injuries still poses a challenge, as current treatments are unable to restore the function of tendons following injuries. Hydrogels, due to their exceptional biocompatibility and plasticity, have been extensively applied and regarded as promising candidate biomaterials in tissue regeneration. Varieties of approaches have designed functionally-adapted hydrogels and combined hydrogels with other factors (e.g., bioactive molecules or drugs) or materials for the enhancement of tendon repair. This review first summarized the current state of knowledge on the mechanisms underlying the process of tendon healing. Afterward, we discussed novel strategies in fabricating hydrogels to overcome the issues frequently encountered during the applications in tendon repair, including poor mechanical properties and undesirable degradation. In addition, we comprehensively summarized the rational design of hydrogels for promoting stem-cell-based tendon tissue engineering via altering biophysical and biochemical factors. Finally, the role of macrophages in tendon repair and how they respond to immunomodulatory hydrogels were highlighted.

Keywords: functionally-adapted; hydrogel; macrophage; stem cell; tendon repair.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

This work was sponsered by National key R&D Program of China (No. 2021YFC2400801); National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81830076, 81902234, 82172408 and 81772314); Principle Investigator Innovation Team of Both Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital and Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medical College “Two-hundred Talent” Program (No.20191829); The Second Three-Year Action Plan for Promoting Clinical Skills and Clinical Innovation in Municipal Hospitals of Shanghai Shenkang (No.SHDC2020CR4032); Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Orthopaedic Material Innovation and Tissue Regeneration (No.20DZ2254100); Original Exploration project (22ZR1480300) and Outstanding Academic Leaders (Youth) project (21XD1422900) of Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan; “Shuguang Program” supported by Shanghai Education Development Foundation and Shanghai Municipal Education Commission.