Embryonic stem cells have unlimited proliferative capacity, which may provide a source of
tendon stem/
progenitor cells for
tissue engineering. Experts of International
Science and
Technology Collaborative Program of Ministry of
Science and
Technology have developed a protocol
consensus on differentiation of
human embryonic stem cells into the
tendon cells. The
consensus recommends a protocol of two-step generation of
human embryonic stem cells into
tendon cells the
human embryonic stem cells are first differentiated into
mesenchymal stem cells on different material surfaces; then with the scaffold-free
tissue engineering tendon formed by high-density
planting, the
mesenchymal stem cells are induced into
tendon cells under static or dynamic mechanical stimulation in vivo and
in vitro.
Tissue engineering tendon established
in vitro by the protocol can be used as a model in toxicological
analysis and
safety evaluation of
tendon-relevant small molecule compounds, medical materials and
drugs.