A Physiology-Inspired Multifactorial Toolbox in Soft-to-Hard Musculoskeletal Interface Tissue Engineering. Issue 1 (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Calejo, Isabel; Costa-Almeida, Raquel; Reis, Rui L.; Gomes, Manuela E.
• Is Part Of: Trends in biotechnology. Volume 38:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 83
• Page End: 98
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: biomaterial design -- biomimetics -- gradients -- multitissue transitions -- regenerative medicine -- stem cell differentiation; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Biochemical engineering -- Periodicals; Genetic engineering -- Periodicals; Industrial microbiology -- Periodicals; 660.605
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2019.06.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0167-7799

Abstract

Abstract : Musculoskeletal diseases are increasing the prevalence of physical disability worldwide. Within the body, musculoskeletal soft and hard tissues integrate through specific multitissue transitions, allowing for body movements. Owing to their unique compositional and structural gradients, injuries challenge the native interfaces and tissue regeneration is unlikely to occur. Tissue engineering strategies are emerging to emulate the physiological environment of soft-to-hard tissue interfaces. Advances in biomaterial design enable control over biophysical parameters, but biomaterials alone are not sufficient to provide adequate support and guide transplanted cells. Therefore, biological, biophysical, and biochemical tools can be integrated into a multifactorial toolbox, steering prospective advances toward engineering clinically relevant soft-to-hard tissue interfaces. Highlights: Soft-to-hard interfaces exhibit unique compositional and structural gradients that are difficult to heal and have limited regenerative abilities. From a biomimetic perspective, combining biological, biophysical, and biochemical cues is likely to enable the generation of physiologically relevant tissue engineered constructs emulating such complex multitissue transitions. Progresses on cell sheet engineering are integrating cell patterning and mechanical stimulation, together with cells and their matrices as native orchestrators of tissue regeneration. Advances in biomaterial design offer a precise tuning of architectural, topographical, and mechanical properties to recreate cell-specific niches. Together with gradients of biochemical cues (including oxygen and growth factors), multifactorial strategies allow strategic control of stem cell differentiation along a single unit.