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Advances in Hydrogels for Meniscus Tissue Engineering: A Focus on Biomaterials, Crosslinking, Therapeutic Additives
Zhuxing Zhou1,2,3,4, Jiajie Wang1,2,3,4, Chaoqian Jiang5
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China.
Gels (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 23, 2024
Summary
Hydrogels show great promise for meniscus tissue engineering (MTE) by mimicking natural tissues and delivering therapeutic agents. This review explores hydrogel materials, additives, and design strategies for effective meniscus repair and regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Orthopedic Engineering
Background:
- Meniscus tissue engineering (MTE) seeks effective repair and regeneration strategies.
- Hydrogels offer tunable properties mimicking native extracellular matrices for MTE.
- Hydrogels provide a suitable microenvironment and can deliver bioactive additives for meniscus repair.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review advancements in hydrogel applications for MTE.
- To analyze biomaterials and crosslinking strategies for hydrogel formation in MTE.
- To discuss the role of therapeutic additives in facilitating meniscus repair and regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on hydrogel-based MTE.
- Analysis of biomaterials, crosslinking techniques, and therapeutic additives.
- Identification of key design considerations and challenges in hydrogel development for MTE.
Main Results:
- Hydrogels possess tunable properties ideal for mimicking native extracellular matrices.
- Hydrogels facilitate minimally invasive delivery of cells, growth factors, and other bioactive agents.
- Various biomaterials and crosslinking strategies are employed for hydrogel fabrication in MTE.
Conclusions:
- Hydrogels are versatile platforms for meniscus repair and regeneration due to their biomimetic and delivery capabilities.
- Addressing current challenges in hydrogel design and application is crucial for advancing MTE.
- This review serves as a resource for exploring new design possibilities in hydrogel-based MTE.
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