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Using Tools in Mechanobiology to Repair Tendons

  • Cell Behavior Manipulation (S Willerth, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to describe the mechanobiological mechanisms of tendon repair as well as outline current and emerging tools in mechanobiology that might be useful for improving tendon healing and regeneration. Over 30 million musculoskeletal injuries are reported in the US per year and nearly 50% involve soft tissue injuries to tendons and ligaments. Yet current therapeutic strategies for treating tendon injuries are not always successful in regenerating and returning function of the healing tendon.

Recent Findings

The use of rehabilitative strategies to control the motion and transmission of mechanical loads to repairing tendons following surgical reattachment is beneficial for some, but not all, tendon repairs. Scaffolds that are designed to recapitulate properties of developing tissues show potential to guide the mechanical and biological healing of tendon following rupture. The incorporation of biomaterials to control alignment and reintegration, as well as promote scar-less healing, are also promising. Improving our understanding of damage thresholds for resident cells and how these cells respond to bioelectrical cues may offer promising steps forward in the field of tendon regeneration.

Summary

The field of orthopedics continues to advance and improve with the development of regenerative approaches for musculoskeletal injuries, especially for tendon, and deeper exploration in this area will lead to improved clinical outcomes.

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Funding

Research was financially supported by the University of Delaware Research Foundation; the Delaware Space Grant Consortium (NNX15AI19H), the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers R03HD094594 and K12HD073945, and the National Institute for General Medical Sciences under Award Number P30GM103333.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200, Newark, DE, 19716, USA

    Connor C. Leek, Jaclyn M. Soulas, Anna Lia Sullivan & Megan L. Killian

  2. College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Delaware, 531 South College Avenue, Newark, DE, 19716, USA

    Jaclyn M. Soulas & Anna Lia Sullivan

  3. School of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Megan L. Killian

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  1. Connor C. Leek
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  2. Jaclyn M. Soulas
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All authors conceived, drafted, and edited the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Megan L. Killian.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Cell Behavior Manipulation

Connor C. Leek, Jaclyn M. Soulas, and Anna Lia Sullivan shared first authorship.

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Leek, C.C., Soulas, J.M., Sullivan, A.L. et al. Using Tools in Mechanobiology to Repair Tendons. Curr. Tissue Microenviron. Rep. 1, 31–40 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43152-020-00005-w

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