Application of tendon extracellular matrix in tendon tissue engineering

Abstract

In recent years, with the application of natural extracellular matrix (ECM) components, tissue-induced scaffolds have become one of the hot topics in tissue engineering. As a natural source of material, ECM components are easily obtained from animals, and have good biocompatibility. Moreover, tendon ECM materials can well simulate the composition and structure of natural tendon ECM, and can provide mechanics fulcrum and stimulus signal for host cells so as to promote their tenogenic differentiation. Therefore, the tendon ECM components contained scaffold is expected to promote the repair and regeneration of tendon tissue. In this paper, the recent progress of tendon decellularization and preparation of different forms of scaffolds were reviewed, as well as the application of tendon ECM in the construction of tissue engineering tendons and mechanism of ECM induced tenogenic differentiation. Moreover, the optimized methods for preparing tendon ECM contained scaffolds were proposed to promote the application. Key words: Tendon tissue engineering; Scaffold; Extracellular matrix; Tendon differentiation