A review of strategies for development of tissue engineered meniscal implants

• Published in: Biomaterials and biosystems 2021-12, Vol.4, p.100026-100026, Article 100026
• Main Authors: Klarmann, George J., Gaston, Joel, Ho, Vincent B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D printing; Biofabrication; Knee joint; Meniscal tear; Meniscus; Review; Tissue engineering
• ISSN: 2666-5344; 2666-5344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbiosy.2021.100026

•Knee meniscus tears occur with a yearly incidence of nearly 61 per 100,000 people.•Untreated tears lead to progressive osteoarthritis development.•Updates on current state of scaffold and tissue-engineered meniscal replacements.•3D printing can fabricate meniscal repair devices with patient-specific geometry. The meniscus is a key stabilizing tissue of the knee that facilitates proper tracking and movement of the knee joint and absorbs stresses related to physical activity. This review article describes the biology, structure, and functions of the human knee meniscus, common tears and repair approaches, and current research and development approaches using modern methods to fabricate a scaffold or tissue engineered meniscal replacement. Meniscal tears are quite common, often resulting from sports or physical training, though injury can result without specific contact during normal physical activity such as bending or squatting. Meniscal injuries often require surgical intervention to repair, restore basic functionality and relieve pain, and severe damage may warrant reconstruction using allograft transplants or commercial implant devices. Ongoing research is attempting to develop alternative scaffold and tissue engineered devices using modern fabrication techniques including three-dimensional (3D) printing which can fabricate a patient-specific meniscus replacement. An ideal meniscal substitute should have mechanical properties that are close to that of natural human meniscus, and also be easily adapted for surgical procedures and fixation. A better understanding of the organization and structure of the meniscus as well as its potential points of failure will lead to improved design approaches to generate a suitable and functional replacement.