The past, present and future in scaffold-based tendon treatments

Tendon injuries represent a significant clinical burden on healthcare systems worldwide. As the human population ages and the life expectancy increases, tendon injuries will become more prevalent especially among young individuals with long life ahead of them. Advancements in engineering, chemistry and biology have made available an array of three-dimensional scaffold-based intervention strategies, natural or synthetic in origin. Further, functionalisation strategies, based on biophysical, biochemical and biological cues, offer control over cellular functions; localisation and sustained release of therapeutics/biologics; and the ability to positively interact with the host to promote repair and regeneration. Herein, we critically discuss current therapies and emerging technologies that aim to transform tendon treatments in the years to come. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.