Reprogramming tendon healing: a guide to novel molecular tools

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, vol. 12, pp. 1379773

Abstract

Tendons are a frequent site of injury, which greatly impairs the movement and locomotion of patients. Regrettably, injuries at the tendon frequently require surgical intervention, which leads to a long path to recovery. Moreover, the healing of tendons often involves the formation of scar tissue at the site of injury with poor mechanical properties and prone to re-injury. Tissue engineering carries the promise of better and more effective solutions to the improper healing of tendons. Lately, the field of regenerative medicine has seen a significant increase in the focus on the potential use of non-coding RNAs (e.g., siRNAs, miRNAs, and lncRNAs) as molecular tools for tendon tissue engineering. This class of molecules is being investigated due to their ability to act as epigenetic regulators of gene expression and protein production. Thus, providing a molecular instrument to fine-tune, reprogram, and modulate the processes of tendon differentiation, healing, and regeneration. This review focuses particularly on the latest advances involving the use of siRNAs, miRNAs, and lncRNAs in tendon tissue engineering applications.

Authors 3

1. Carlos Julio Peniche Silva corresponding

   Maastricht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands

2. Elizabeth Rosado Balmayor Aachen Experimental Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery Department of Orthopaedic, Trauma, and Reconstructive Surgery

   RWTH Aachen University · Universitätsklinikum Aachen

   Affiliation as printed

   Experimental Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic, Trauma, and Reconstructive Surgery, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany

3. Martijn van Griensven

   Maastricht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands