Tissue engineering approaches for the construction of a completely autologous tendon substitute

Bassetto Franco; Vindigni Vincenzo; Dalla Vedova Alessandro; Carolin Tonello; Giovanni Abatangelo; Francesco Mazzoleni

doi:10.4103/0970-0358.41109

Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, Table of Contents

Indian J Plast Surg 2008; 41(01): 38-46
DOI: 10.4103/0970-0358.41109

Invited Article

Association of Plastic Surgeons of India

Tissue engineering approaches for the construction of a completely autologous tendon substitute

Bassetto Franco

Clinic of Plastic Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialities

,

Vindigni Vincenzo

Clinic of Plastic Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialities

,

Dalla Vedova Alessandro

Clinic of Plastic Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialities

,

Carolin Tonello

¹Department of Histology, Microbiology and Medical Biotechnology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

,

Giovanni Abatangelo

¹Department of Histology, Microbiology and Medical Biotechnology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

,

Francesco Mazzoleni

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

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ABSTRACT

Tissue engineering is a multidisciplinary field that involves the application of the principles and methods of engineering and life sciences towards i) the fundamental understanding of structure-function relationships in normal and pathological mammalian tissues and ii) the development of biological substitutes that restore, maintain or improve tissue function. The goal of tissue engineering is to surpass the limitations of conventional treatments based on organ transplantation and biomaterial implantation. The field of tendon tissue engineering is relatively unexplored due to the difficulty in in vitro preservation of tenocyte phenotype. Only recently has mechanobiology allowed us to gain a better understanding of the fundamental role of in vitro mechanical stimuli in maintaining the phenotype of tendinous tissue. This review analyzes the techniques used so far for in vitro regeneration of tendinous tissue.

KEYWORDS

Biomaterials - bioreactor - mechanobiology - tendon - tissue engineering

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