Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026
08:30
Surgical Retrieval, Isolation and In vitro Expansion of Human Anterior Cruciate Ligament-derived Cells for Tissue Engineering Applications
Published on: April 30, 2014
12.0K
Biological augmentation and tissue engineering approaches in meniscus surgery.
Cathal J Moran1, Alberto Busilacchi2, Cassandra A Lee3
1Sports Surgery Clinic and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Summary
Biological augmentation and tissue engineering show promise for meniscus repair and replacement, with stem cells and growth factors being particularly useful. Further clinical studies are needed to translate these regenerative medicine strategies into practice.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Regenerative Medicine
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Meniscus injuries are common, leading to pain and disability.
- Current treatments for meniscus damage have limitations.
- Biological augmentation and tissue engineering offer potential for improved meniscus repair and regeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the role of biological augmentation and tissue engineering in meniscus surgery.
- To focus on preclinical and clinical studies from 2009-2014, alongside a summary of in vitro findings over the past decade.
Main Methods:
- PubMed search for original works (2009-2014) using keywords: "meniscus," "scaffolds," "constructs," "cells," "growth factors," "implant," "tissue engineering," and "regenerative medicine."
- Inclusion of English-language clinical, preclinical (in vivo), and in vitro studies.
- Systematic review of Level I-IV studies.
Main Results:
- Identified 3 clinical studies, 18 preclinical studies, and 68 in vitro tissue engineering studies.
- Stem cell and growth factor therapies show particular promise for meniscus regeneration.
- Numerous scaffold types show potential for meniscus replacement in vitro, but clinical data is limited.
Conclusions:
- Biological augmentation and tissue engineering hold significant potential for meniscus repair and replacement.
- A notable gap exists in clinical studies translating in vitro and preclinical findings.
- Improved translational infrastructure is crucial to bridge the gap between research and clinical application.
