سامانه همایش های دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد نجف آباد

صفحه اصلی / اولین همایش بین المللی تحول خدمات سلامت: تلفیق مراقبت، درمان، بازتوانی و امیدبخشی

Injectable Hydrogels for Tendon Repair: A Comprehensive Review of Regenerative Strategies and Health Focused Innovations

نویسندگان :

Fatemeh Mohammadi Borkani¹ Mohsen Setayeshmehr²

1- دانشگاه اصفهان 2- دانشگاه اصفهان

کلمات کلیدی :

Tendons،Tendon Injuries،Hydrogels،Tissue Engineering Regenerative،MedicineStem Cells،Drug Delivery Systems

چکیده :

Background: Tendon injuries are frequent, slow to heal because of poor vascularity and low cellularity, and commonly lead to scar formation, residual weakness, and re-injury. Conventional treatments have limited capacity to restore native tendon architecture, whereas injectable hydrogels provide a minimally invasive platform that can mimic extracellular matrix, deliver bioactive cues, and support regeneration. This review summarizes current knowledge on injectable hydrogels for tendon repair. Method: We conducted a comprehensive narrative review drawing on evidence from biomaterials science, cell biology, nanotechnology, regenerative medicine, and tendon tissue engineering. The literature was structured around tendon pathology, hydrogel class, mechanisms of action, growth factor- and cell-based approaches, nanotechnology, smart materials, 3D printing, and translational barriers. Finding: Injectable hydrogels were described as natural, synthetic, or hybrid systems, each with specific advantages and limitations. Their proposed functions include extracellular matrix mimicry, mechanical support, controlled delivery of growth factors and drugs, modulation of inflammation, and promotion of type I collagen remodeling. Growth factor-loaded hydrogels incorporating TGF-β, PDGF, VEGF, and BMPs were reported to enhance matrix deposition, cell recruitment, angiogenesis, and tenogenic differentiation. Cell-laden hydrogels containing tenocytes, mesenchymal stem cells, adipose-derived stem cells, or induced pluripotent stem cells improved collagen organization, gene expression, and repair-associated signaling. Nanofibers, nanoparticles, stimuli-responsive systems, and 3D printing further improved mechanical properties, delivery precision, and scaffold architecture. Important obstacles remain, including inadequate tensile strength, uncontrolled degradation, immune reactions, limited vascularization, and mechanical mismatch with native tendon. Conclusion: The reviewed evidence suggests that injectable hydrogels are a highly promising strategy for tendon repair because they combine minimally invasive delivery with both biological and mechanical support for regeneration. Their clinical translation will require stronger materials, more precise control of degradation, reduced immunogenicity, and stable integration with host tendon tissue.