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A brief history of tendon and ligament bioreactors: Impact and future prospects
Author(s) -
Dyment Nathaniel A.,
Barrett Jennifer G.,
Awad Hani A.,
Bautista Catherine A.,
Banes Albert J.,
Butler David L.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research®
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.24784
Subject(s) - bioreactor , ligament , tendon , tissue engineering , biochemical engineering , extracellular matrix , biomedical engineering , computer science , biology , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , engineering , botany
Bioreactors are powerful tools with the potential to model tissue development and disease in vitro. For nearly four decades, bioreactors have been used to create tendon and ligament tissue‐engineered constructs in order to define basic mechanisms of cell function, extracellular matrix deposition, tissue organization, injury, and tissue remodeling. This review provides a historical perspective of tendon and ligament bioreactors and their contributions to this advancing field. First, we demonstrate the need for bioreactors to improve understanding of tendon and ligament function and dysfunction. Next, we detail the history and evolution of bioreactor development and design from simple stretching of explants to fabrication and stimulation of two‐ and three‐dimensional constructs. Then, we demonstrate how research using tendon and ligament bioreactors has led to pivotal basic science and tissue‐engineering discoveries. Finally, we provide guidance for new basic, applied, and clinical research utilizing these valuable systems, recognizing that fundamental knowledge of cell‐cell and cell‐matrix interactions combined with appropriate mechanical and chemical stimulation of constructs could ultimately lead to functional tendon and ligament repairs in the coming decades.