Editorial Commentary: Meniscal Tissue Engineering

Editorial Commentary: Meniscal Tissue Engineering

Abstract: Meniscal tissue engineering requires cells, scaffolds, growth factors, biomechanical stimulation, and biochemical stimulation. Preclinical work is assiduous; however, we are today, unaware of any clinical reports of meniscal tissue engineering in the literature.

See related article on page 944

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avid Parker from Sydney, Australia, and ISAKOS, has made a diligent effort in compiling the ISAKOS Knee Biologics Supplement,1 and in this month’s Supplement Part II, Dr. Parker has started off with Tudor and Myers’ “Meniscal allograft transplant: How should we be doing it?”2 and Warth and Rodkey’s “Resorbable collagen scaffolds for the treatment of meniscus defects.”3 These introductory articles are the perfect lead for Moran, Busilacchi, Lee, Athanasiou, Verdonk’s “Biological augmentation and tissue engineering approaches in meniscus surgery”4 on which we now comment. We are optimistic and excited about scaffolds, cells and growth factors.5-9 There is a biological basis, which basic scientists are actively investigating, for tissue engineering using scaffolds, stem cells, and growth factors, as above. In addition, we must not forget the additional nuance of a need for biomechanical and biochemical stimulation. Imagine growing a meniscus in a warm, moist, nourishing incubator, and applying intermittent, progressive cyclic load, then having available a selection of right, left, medial, lateral, various size or shape tissueengineered menisci on the shelf and ready for knee arthroscopy. For now, we must keep imagining: clinically, there “is no report”4 of tissue-engineered menisci in the literature, and basic, translational research is still required.

James H. Lubowitz, M.D. Editor-in-Chief

References 1. Parker DA. Foreword. ISAKOS knee Committee: Biologics in orthopaedics. Arthroscopy 2015;31:714. 2. Tudor F, Myers P. Meniscal allograft transplantation: How should we be doing it? A systematic review. Arthroscopy 2015;31:911-925. 3. Warth RJ, Rodkey WG. Resorbable collagen scaffolds for the treatment of meniscus defects: A systematic review. Arthroscopy 2015;31:927-941. 4. Moran CJ, Busilacchi A, Lee CA, Athanasiou KA, Verdonk PC. Biological augmentation and tissue engineering approaches in meniscus surgery. Arthroscopy 2015;31:944-955. 5. Lubowitz JH, Provencher MT, Poehling GG. Cartilage treatment and biologics current research. Arthroscopy 2013;29:1597-1598. 6. Lubowitz JH, Provencher MT, Poehling GG. Stem cells in the knee. Arthroscopy 2013;29:609-610. 7. Lubowitz JH, Provencher MT, Poehling GG. Stem cells in arthroscopy. Arthroscopy 2012;28:891-892. 8. Lubowitz JH, Poehling GG. Saving our cells: Advances in tissue engineering for focal cartilage defects. Arthroscopy 2009;25:115-116. 9. Pereira H, Frias AM, Oliveira JM, Espregueira-Mendes J, Reis RL. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies in meniscus lesions. Arthroscopy 2011;27:1706-1719.

Ó 2015 by the Arthroscopy Association of North America 0749-8063/15192/$36.00 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2015.02.044

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Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Vol 31, No 5 (May), 2015: p 956