Stem Cells in Ligament Tissue Engineering

Injured ligaments have a poor capacity for healing due to their relative avascularity. Ligament reconstruction is well established for injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament rupture. However, the use of autografts and allografts for ligament reconstruction may be associated with a number of complications, and outcomes are variable. Ligament tissue engineering using stem cells is a novel technique that has the potential to provide an unlimited source of tissue. The process of tissue engineering involves the use of stem cells, growth factors, mechanical loading, a bioreactor, a biomimetic scaffold and gene therapy. In vitro and in vivo studies on ligament tissue engineering have shown some promising results; however, clinical research in this field is needed.