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Bioengineering
Special Issues
Tendon/Ligament and Enthesis Injuries: Repair and Regeneration
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Tendon/Ligament and Enthesis Injuries: Repair and Regeneration

A special issue of Bioengineering (ISSN 2306-5354). This special issue belongs to the section "Regenerative Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 1954

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Dai Fei Elmer Ker

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Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
Interests: musculoskeletal tissue engineering; artificial intelligence; biomaterials; computer vision; microscopy; label-free analysis
Dr. Jingyu Shi

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Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR,China
Interests: nanobiological materials; biosensing technology; precision theranostics
Dr. Bingyang Dai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
Interests: macrophage-based therapies for musculoskeletal regeneration; pathologies of challenging musculoskeletal disorders; nanoparticle-based therapy and tissue engineering on musculoskeletal regeneration

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tendons and ligaments are crucial for connecting muscles to bones and are prone to injuries, particularly at the bone–tendon junction or enthesis as well as at the mid-tendon/ligament region. This collection presents a range of original research articles and reviews that cover topics on tendon/ligaments and entheses, from fundamental musculoskeletal science to technical advancements in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This collection will cover areas such as the isolation and modification of stem cells and their derivatives including exosomes, the controlled delivery of tendon/ligament bioactive molecules, the characterization and assessment of tendon/ligament and bone–tendon therapeutics including miRNA, mRNA, drugs, and biomaterials, and the development and use of in vitro and in vivo musculoskeletal models, such as tissue-on-a-chip technologies and (patho)physiologically relevant animal models.

Dr. Dai Fei Elmer Ker
Dr. Jingyu Shi
Dr. Bingyang Dai
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Bioengineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • tendon
  • ligament
  • enthesis
  • drug delivery
  • therapeutics
  • biomaterials
  • tissue engineering
  • musculoskeletal animal models

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 1910 KB  
Article
The Characterization of Serum-Free Media on Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Fibrochondrogenesis
by Ka Yu Carissa Kwan, Ke Li, Yu Yang Wang, Wai Yi Tse, Chung Yan Tong, Xu Zhang, Dan Michelle Wang and Dai Fei Elmer Ker
Bioengineering 2025, 12(5), 546; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12050546 - 19 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1102
Abstract
Developing fibrochondrogenic serum-free media is important for regenerating diseased and injured fibrocartilage but no defined protocols exist. Towards this goal, we characterized the effect of four candidate fibrochondrogenic serum-free media containing transforming growth factor beta-3 (TGF-β3), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and fibroblast growth [...] Read more.
Developing fibrochondrogenic serum-free media is important for regenerating diseased and injured fibrocartilage but no defined protocols exist. Towards this goal, we characterized the effect of four candidate fibrochondrogenic serum-free media containing transforming growth factor beta-3 (TGF-β3), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) with high/low glucose and with/without dexamethasone on human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) via proliferation and differentiation assays. In Ki67 proliferation assays, serum-free media containing low glucose and dexamethasone exhibited the highest growth. In gene expression assays, serum-free media containing low glucose and commercially available chondrogenic media (COM) induced high fibrochondrogenic transcription factor expression (scleraxis/SCX and SRY-Box Transcription Factor 9/SOX9) and extracellular matrix (ECM) protein levels (aggrecan/ACAN, collagen type I/COL1A1, and collagen type II/COL2A1), respectively. In immunofluorescence staining, serum-free media containing high glucose and COM induced high fibrochondrogenic transcription factor (SCX and SOX9) and ECM protein (COL1A1, COL2A1, and collagen type X/COL10A1) levels, respectively. In cytochemical staining, COM and serum-free media containing dexamethasone showed a high collagen content whereas serum-free media containing high glucose and dexamethasone exhibited high glycosaminoglycan (GAG) levels. Altogether, defined serum-free media containing high glucose exhibited the highest fibrochondrogenic potential. In summary, this work studied conditions conducive for fibrochondrogenesis, which may be further optimized for potential applications in fibrocartilage tissue engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tendon/Ligament and Enthesis Injuries: Repair and Regeneration)
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Review

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12 pages, 678 KB  
Review
Superior Capsule Reconstruction Graft Selection: The Influence of Biological Properties of Grafts on Healing and Re-Tearing
by Mingde Cao, Mingguang Bi, Shuai Yuan, Yuhao Wu, Patrick Shu-Hang Yung and Michael Tim-Yun Ong
Bioengineering 2025, 12(9), 942; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12090942 - 31 Aug 2025
Viewed by 557
Abstract
Arthroscopic Superior Capsular Reconstruction has emerged as a promising surgical intervention for irreparable massive rotator cuff tears, aiming to restore glenohumeral joint stability and improve patient outcomes. A critical determinant of ASCR success is the selection of an appropriate graft material. This review [...] Read more.
Arthroscopic Superior Capsular Reconstruction has emerged as a promising surgical intervention for irreparable massive rotator cuff tears, aiming to restore glenohumeral joint stability and improve patient outcomes. A critical determinant of ASCR success is the selection of an appropriate graft material. This review explores the spectrum of grafts utilized in ASCR, including autografts, allografts, xenografts, and synthetic materials. The primary focus is on how the inherent biological properties of these grafts—such as cellularity, vascularity, immunogenicity, and extracellular matrix composition—profoundly influence the processes of graft healing, integration into host tissues, and ultimately, the rates of re-tearing. Autografts, particularly fascia lata, often demonstrate superior biological incorporation due to their viable cells and non-immunogenic nature, leading to high healing rates. Allografts, while offering advantages like reduced donor site morbidity, present biological challenges related to decellularization processes and slower remodeling, resulting in more variable healing outcomes. Xenografts face significant immunological hurdles, often leading to rejection and poor integration. Synthetic grafts provide an off-the-shelf option but interact with host tissue primarily as a scaffold, without true biological integration. Understanding the nuanced biological characteristics of each graft type is paramount for surgeons aiming to optimize healing environments and minimize re-tear rates, thereby enhancing the long-term efficacy of ASCR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tendon/Ligament and Enthesis Injuries: Repair and Regeneration)
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