Do There Exist Innovative Perspectives in Tissue Engineering-Based Ligament Reconstruction?

Abstract

Ligament reconstruction remains challenging, since ligaments represent heavily loaded tissues with high extracellular matrix (ECM) content, very low cell numbers, limited blood supply and as a consequence, restricted repair capacity. To circumvent limited auto graft availability and donor site morbidity, tissue engineered biological grafts could present benefit for ligament reconstruction in future. Valuable tissue engineered approaches can be developed based on small-scale in vitro models.This mini review was prepared to draw attention to some experimental key problems and to illustrate approaches to establish tissue engineered ligament substitutes including appropriate scaffolds, functionalization of them, applicable cell sources, three-dimensional (3D) cell culturing and seeding strategies. It opens also the view on novel perspectives, which could move ligament tissue engineering forward such as utilization of various natural allogenic and xengenic ligament-derived ECMs and first attempts in ligament bioprinting.