Recent Advancements in Soft Tissue Regeneration

In this millennium, tissue engineering for soft tissue repair has expanded to include regenerative medicine. Researchers are tirelessly developing new ideas and methods for engineering fully functional tissue. Introduced are four major areas of soft tissue musculoskeletal research: ligament, cartilage, muscle and rotator cuff. Investigators are pursuing tissue regenerative medicine therapies to provide functionality and promote development of musculoskeletal neo-tissue. This article addresses some of the recent patents that help regenerate musculoskeletal tissues using genes, cells and scaffolds.