Recent Advances in the Application of Natural and Synthetic Polymer-Based Scaffolds in Musculoskeletal Regeneration

The musculoskeletal system plays a critical role in providing the physical scaffold and movement to the mammalian body. Musculoskeletal disorders severely affect mobility and quality of life and pose a heavy burden to society. This new field of musculoskeletal tissue engineering has great potential as an alternative approach to treating large musculoskeletal defects. Natural and synthetic polymers are widely used in musculoskeletal tissue engineering owing to their good biocompatibility and biodegradability. Even more promising is the use of natural and synthetic polymer composites, as well as the combination of polymers and inorganic materials, to repair musculoskeletal tissue. Therefore, this review summarizes the progress of polymer-based scaffolds for applications of musculoskeletal tissue engineering and briefly discusses the challenges and future perspectives.

Automated summary

The musculoskeletal system is crucial for the physical structure and movement of the mammalian body. Musculoskeletal disorders have a significant impact on mobility and quality of life, resulting in a societal burden. Musculoskeletal tissue engineering, using natural and synthetic polymers, shows promise as an alternative approach for treating large musculoskeletal defects. This review summarizes the progress of polymer-based scaffolds in musculoskeletal tissue engineering applications and discusses future challenges and perspectives briefly.