The meniscus in normal and osteoarthritic tissues: facing the structure property challenges and current treatment trends

The treatment of meniscus injuries has recently been facing a paradigm shift toward the field of tissue engineering, with the aim of regenerating damaged and diseased menisci as opposed to current treatment techniques. This review focuses on the structure and mechanics associated with the meniscus. The meniscus is defined in terms of its biological structure and composition. Biomechanics of the meniscus are discussed in detail, as an understanding of the mechanics is fundamental for the development of new meniscal treatment strategies. Key meniscal characteristics such as biological function, damage (tears), and disease are critically analyzed. The latest technologies behind meniscal repair and regeneration are assessed.M.N.C., A.K.G., and C.A.M. acknowledge the Johnson & Johnson 3D Printing Centre of Excellence, Manufacturing Technology and Innovation, and Automation Centre of Excellence. C.A.M. thanks the Irish Research Council for support under Project ID-EPSPG/2015/93. J.S.C. and J.M.O. acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for financial support provided under the program “Investigador FCT” (IF/00115/2015 and IF/01285/2015, respectively