Advances in collagen-based materials for tissue-engineered meniscus

Meniscus possesses weak self-repairability once getting hurt due to heterogeneity, particularly “white region” of avascular parts. However, the effect of conventional therapies in restoring structure and function of the meniscus isn’t ideal. Collagen, a key part of the extracellular matrix, is quite promising. Its excellent biocompatibility and biological activity enable collagen-based tissue-engineered meniscus scaffolds to be safely implanted in the body, effectively improving the pathological and physiological state of cells at the meniscus injury site and the surrounding microenvironment. This review describes the application of different implantable medical collagen-based materials used for meniscal regeneration and repair. Firstly, the structure and physiological function of meniscus are described briefly. Then, different collagen-based materials for meniscal repair are introduced emphatically. Last but not least, some current challenges and issues regarding collagen-based strategies on meniscus repair are analyzed so as to provide strategies for future studies.