Biomimetic Tissue Engineering for Musculoskeletal Tissues
Current trends in the application of stem cells in tissue engineering have prompted further investigation and incorporation of developmental biology in the field. A greater understanding of human development, specifically the intricate and complex processes promoting cell differentiation and organization in tissue development or repair, can greatly aid in engineering more physiologically relevant biomimetic tissues. Biomaterials have become an essential tool in the effort to recapitulate the chemical, physical, and spatiotemporally dynamic cell environment needed for effective biomimetic tissue engineering. This chapter highlights the recent advancements that apply an understanding of developmental biology and extracellular niche properties to engineer biomaterials for biomimetic musculoskeletal tissue engineering. Specifically, we highlight the most promising approaches to engineering the biochemical, biomechanical, and biophysical environment to improve function of biomimetic cartilage and bone and skeletal muscle constructs.
