Innovative tissue engineering methods supporting the healing and regeneration of tendons and ligaments

The project received funding under the first competition of the National Center for Research and Development in the STRATEGMED "PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CIVILIZATIONAL DISEASES" program. The project leader is the Warsaw University of Technology. The consortium includes the Medical University of Warsaw, Sport Medica S.A., M. Skłodowska-Curie Oncology Center based in Warsaw, University of Warsaw, Harvard Medical School, Biomaterials Innovation Research Center based in the USA (Boston), University of Pittsburgh, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine based in the USA (Pittsburgh). Despite advances in the treatment of tendon and ligament injuries, which are the most common disorders of the musculoskeletal system, the question of how to best treat them has not yet been resolved. The main goal of the project is to develop novel tissue engineering methods to support the healing and regeneration of tendons and ligaments. The project assumes that a new personalized in-situ-guided tissue engineering method will improve tendon / ligament regeneration through the use of intelligent 3D cell scaffolds (scaffolds). The scaffolds with a complex bio-mimetic micro- and nano-structure and chemical composition will deliver the necessary biological factors and stem cells to the treatment site. Such "tailor-made" scaffolds will provide favorable conditions for tissue regeneration, additionally involving the organism's endogenous stem / progenitor cells to form the tissue together. In addition, the tissue scaffold, due to its special design, will allow for continuous modulation of the regeneration process by delivering stem cells, cytokines directly to the site of damage and mechanical stimulation of the tissue throughout the therapy period. This modulation will depend on the stage of tissue reconstruction and the results of in-situ biomarker analysis. The in-situ guided tissue engineering method will require the development of new, non-invasive imaging techniques and analytical methods for monitoring the tissue regeneration process. The implementation of this type of interdisciplinary strategies for tissue engineering should significantly improve the effectiveness of treatment of diseases of tendons and ligaments.