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Augmenting Tendon‐to‐Bone Repair with Functionally Graded Scaffolds
Author(s) -
Zhu Chunlei,
Qiu Jichuan,
Thomopoulos Stavros,
Xia Younan
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced healthcare materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.288
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2192-2659
pISSN - 2192-2640
DOI - 10.1002/adhm.202002269
Subject(s) - tendon , materials science , bone healing , process (computing) , biomedical engineering , tissue engineering , computer science , anatomy , medicine , operating system
Abstract Tendon‐to‐bone repair often fails because the functionally graded attachment is not regenerated during the healing process. Biomimetic scaffolds that recapitulate the unique features of the native tendon‐to‐bone attachment hold great promise for enhancing the healing process. Among various types of scaffolds that are developed and evaluated for tendon‐to‐bone repair, those with gradations (in either a stratified or a continuous fashion) in composition, structure, mechanical properties, and cell phenotype have gained the most attention. In this progress report, the recent efforts in the rational design and fabrication of functionally graded scaffolds based upon electrospun nanofiber mats and inverse opal structures, as well as the evaluation of their applications in augmenting tendon‐to‐bone repair, are reviewed. This report concludes with perspectives on the necessary future steps for clinical translation of the scaffolds.