ABSTRACT
CONTENTS 13.1 Introduction 331 13.2Anatomy and Physiology of the Ligament333
13.2.1Ligament and Bone Interface 334 13.2.2Mechanical Properties of the Ligament 335
13.3Ligament Injuries 337 13.4Ligament Repair: Clinical Challenges and Opportunities 337
13.4.1Ligament Healing338 13.4.2Current Strategies for Repairing Ligaments 338
13.4.2.1Biological Gra§s 340 13.4.2.2Nondegradable Gra§s 341 13.4.2.3Biodegradable and Tissue-Engineered Gra§s343
13.5Future of Ligament Repair and Regeneration345 13.5.1Tissue-Engineering and Biomaterial Strategies 346 13.5.2Cell-Based Gene …erapy Applied to Ligament Healing 350
13.6Summary 350 Acknowledgments351 References351
332
engineering and regenerative medicine. Tissue engineering uses three approaches for the development of new tissues (Bell, 1995; Deuel and Lanza, 1997; Langer and Vacanti, 1993; Morgan and Yarmush, 1999). …ese approaches include the use of isolated cells, the addition of biological tissue-inducing molecules such as growth factors, and biocompatible matrices, each used separately or as a combination of all three approaches. Regenerative medicine can be de‡ned as medical therapies that will enable the body to repair, replace, restore, and regenerate damaged or diseased cells, tissues, and organs. It encompasses a variety of research and targeted therapies including cells, gene therapy, tissue engineering, biomaterials, growth factors, and transplantation. Regenerative medicine provides the promise of improved quality of life by supporting and activating the body’s natural healing of previously untreatable injuries and diseases.
