Emerging tissue engineering strategies for annulus fibrosus therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Low back pain is a prevalent global health issue, often linked to intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation.
• IVD herniation involves nucleus pulposus protrusion due to annulus fibrosus (AF) damage.
• The AF's structural integrity is crucial in IVD degeneration, prompting research into repair strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current therapeutic strategies for annulus fibrosus (AF) repair.
• To identify ideal cell types and pro-differentiation approaches for AF regeneration.
• To discuss the potential and challenges of cell-biomaterial implant systems for AF repair.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of tissue engineering, cellular regeneration, and gene therapy for AF repair.
• Analysis of studies focusing on cell types and differentiation methods for AF regeneration.
• Evaluation of existing and proposed cell-biomaterial implant systems for AF repair.

Main Results:

• Various advanced therapeutic strategies for AF repair have emerged, including tissue engineering, cellular regeneration, and gene therapy.
• No definitive consensus exists on the optimal approach for AF regeneration.
• Cell-biomaterial implant systems show promise but face challenges in clinical application.

Conclusions:

• Further research is needed to establish optimal cell types and pro-differentiation targeting for AF repair.
• Developing effective cell-biomaterial implant systems is crucial for advancing AF regeneration.
• Addressing the challenges in current strategies will guide future research for effective low back pain management.