Precision repair of zone-specific meniscal injuries using a tunable extracellular matrix-based hydrogel system.

ABSTRACT: Meniscus injuries present significant therapeutic challenges due to their limited self-healing capacity and the diverse biological and mechanical properties across the tissue. Conventional repair strategies do not replicate the complex zonal characteristics within the meniscus, resulting in suboptimal outcomes. In this study, we introduce an innovative fetal/adult and stiffness-tunable meniscus decellularized extracellular matrix (DEM)-based hydrogel system designed for precision repair of heterogeneous, zonal-dependent meniscus injuries. By synthesizing fetal and adult DEM hydrogels, we identified distinct cellular responses, including that hydrogels with adult meniscus-derived DEM promote more fibrochondrogenic phenotypes. The incorporation of methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MeHA) further

SUBMITTER: Lee SH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11904587 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature