Next stage approach to tissue engineering skeletal muscle

Abstract

Large‐scale muscle injury in humans initiates a complex regeneration process, as not only the muscular, but also the vascular and neuro‐muscular compartments have to be repaired. Conventional therapeutic strategies often fall short of reaching the desired functional outcome, due to the inherent complexity of natural skeletal muscle. Tissue engineering offers a promising alternative treatment strategy, aiming to achieve an engineered tissue close to natural tissue composition and function, able to induce long‐term, functional regeneration after in vivo implantation. This review aims to summarize the latest approaches of tissue engineering skeletal muscle, with specific attention toward fabrication, neuro‐angiogenesis, multicellularity and the biochemical cues that adjuvate the regeneration process.