Objective
To review the current development in meniscus tissue engineering.
Methods
Recent literature concerning the development of the meniscus tissue engineering was extensively reviewed and summarized.
Results
Recent researches mainly focus on: selection of seed cells and research of their potential of differentiation into chondrocytes; selection of scaffold materials and research of their mechanical properties; cytokines and their mechanisms of action.
Conclusion
Many achievements have been made in meniscus tissue engineering. Most important topics in future research include: finding seed cells that are adapted to physiological process, are easy to culture, and have higher chondrogenic differentiation ability; looking for necessary cytokines and their mechanisms of action; finding scaffold meterials with b morphological plasticity, no antigenicity, good degradability, and mechanical property close to normal meniscus.
