title: Hydrogels for precision meniscus tissue engineering: a comprehensive review.
abstract: The meniscus plays a pivotal role to preserve the knee joint homeostasis. Lesions to the meniscus are frequent, have a reduced ability to heal, and may induce tibiofemoral osteoarthritis. Current reconstructive therapeutic options mainly focus on the treatment of lesions in the peripheral vascularized region. In contrast, few approaches are capable of stimulating repair of damaged meniscal tissue in the central, avascular portion. Tissue engineering approaches are of high interest to repair or replace damaged meniscus tissue in this area. Hydrogel-based biomaterials are of special interest for meniscus repair as its inner part contains relatively high proportions of proteoglycans which are responsible for the viscoelastic compressive properties and hydration grade. Hydrogels exhibiting high water content and providing a specific three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment may be engineered to precisely resemble this topographical composition of the meniscal tissue. Different polymers of both natural and synthetic origins have been manipulated to produce hydrogels hosting relevant cell populations for meniscus regeneration and provide platforms for meniscus tissue replacement. So far, these compounds have been employed to design controlled delivery systems of bioactive molecules involved in meniscal reparative processes or to host genetically modified cells as a means to enhance meniscus repair. This review describes the most recent advances on the use of hydrogels as platforms for precision meniscus tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: a Center of Experimental Orthopaedics , Saarland University Medical Center , Homburg/Saar , Germany.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rey-Rico
authors.affiliation: a Center of Experimental Orthopaedics , Saarland University Medical Center , Homburg/Saar , Germany.
authors.forename: Magali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cucchiarini
authors.affiliation: a Center of Experimental Orthopaedics , Saarland University Medical Center , Homburg/Saar , Germany.|b Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Saarland University Medical Center , Homburg/Saar , Germany.
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Madry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000072600:Meniscus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels
keywords: Hydrogels; meniscal lesions; meniscus; meniscus repair; tissue engineering