Scientists grow human tendons for the first time

Scientists from regenerative medicine company Orthocell have succeeded in growing human tendons in a laboratory for the first time. In a collaboration with the University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Griffith University and the University of Auckland, the researchers used a bioreactor to grow the functonal human tendons.

The ARC Linkage Grant funded project used the cell growth technology behind Orthocell’s Ortho-ATI stem cell therapy, which is approved in Australia for tendon repair and regeneration procedures. Findings from the trial were presented at the Australian Society of Elbow and Shoulder Surgeons biennial conference in Melbourne by Orthocell CSO Professor MH Zheng.

“The secret to growing a human tendon graft outside the body is to culture viable tendon cells and create the exact amount of stimulation to these cells, so that they feel at home and produce the necessary components to form tendon tissue,” Zheng commented.

“We have shown that we can grow and maintain potent and viable tendon cells in culture using the same patented cell-growth technology behind Ortho-ATI ... In the future this could represent a product to replace severely damaged tendons, complementing our existing tendon repair product.”