Meniscus repair using mesenchymal stem cells - a comprehensive review.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Orthopedic Surgery

Background:

• Meniscal fibrocartilage is crucial for knee joint stability and function.
• Limited natural healing capacity of menisci necessitates advanced repair strategies.
• Tissue engineering (TE) aims to restore native meniscus architecture and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review current advancements in meniscus tissue engineering utilizing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
• To analyze different MSC types, animal models, and delivery/culture techniques employed in meniscus repair research.
• To identify future research directions for MSC-based meniscus TE.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across Medline, Embase, Engineering Village, and SPORTDiscus databases.
• Classification of studies based on MSC source (bone marrow, synovium, adipose, meniscus), animal model (murine to human), and MSC delivery/culture methods (scaffolds, hydrogels, direct application, etc.).

Main Results:

• Diverse MSC types have been investigated for meniscus repair.
• A wide range of animal models and delivery techniques have been explored, including scaffolds, hydrogels, and direct cell application.
• The review categorizes and discusses findings across various experimental setups.

Conclusions:

• Mesenchymal stem cells show significant therapeutic potential for meniscus tissue engineering.
• Varied approaches in MSC type, delivery, and culture demonstrate ongoing progress in the field.
• Further research is needed to optimize MSC-based strategies for effective meniscus regeneration and clinical application.