Advances in 3D Bioprinting of Biomimetic and Engineered Meniscal Grafts.

Abstract

The meniscus plays a crucial role in loads distribution and protection of articular cartilage. Meniscal injury can result in cartilage degeneration, loss of mechanical stability in the knee joint and ultimately lead to arthritis. Surgical interventions provide only short-term pain relief but fail to repair or regenerate the injured meniscus. Emerging tissue engineering approaches based on 3D bioprinting provide alternatives to current surgical methods for meniscus repair. In this review, we summarize the current bioprinting techniques employed in developing engineered meniscus grafts and discuss the latest strategies for mimicking the gradient structure, composition and viscoelastic properties of native meniscus. We highlight recent progress in gene-activated matrices for meniscus regeneration as well. Finally, we provide a perspective on the future development of 3D bioprinting for meniscus repair, emphasizing the potential of this technology to revolutionize meniscus regeneration and improve patient outcomes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.