Engineering skeletal muscle tissue – new perspectives in vitro and in vivo

Introduction Matrices for skeletal muscle tissue engineering – gaining orientation Electrospun nanofibre matrices Nanotechnology and smart matrices Cell sources for skeletal muscle TE Conclusion Muscle tissue engineering (TE) has not yet been clinically applied because of several problems. However, the field of skeletal muscle TE has been developing tremendously and new approaches and techniques have emerged. This review will highlight recent developments in the field of nanotechnology, especially electrospun nanofibre matrices, as well as potential cell sources for muscle TE. Important developments in cardiac muscle TE and clinical studies on Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) will be included to show their implications on skeletal muscle TE.