Table 3.

Recent and noteworthy studies focused on cell–ECM–material interactions in tendon.

Tissue	Model	Material	Main Findings
Tendon	Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) tendon scaffold affixed to hand flexor tendon post-operation.	Decellularized dermal ECM.	Addition of ADM post operation reduced tendon adhesion and improved long term functionality of the flexor tendon [100].
	Decellularized bovine tendon ECM used as an anti-adhesion membrane.	Decellularized tendon matrix (DTM).	DTM improved tendon repair in rabbits by reducing adhesion and cellular proliferation, as well as improving healed tendon quality [98].
	Human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) grown in urea-extracted bovine decellularized tendon matrix (DTM).	Urea-extracted decellularized tendon matrix (DTM).	Urea-extracted DTM increased hASC proliferation and tenogenic differentiation, and it also induced unique tenogenic gene expression profiles [96].
	Rat tendon self-repair with implanted decellularized autologous extracellular matrix (aECM) scaffolds with highly aligned microchannels.	aECM scaffolds with aligned microchannels created through poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) microfiber bundle templates.	Subcutaneously implanted aECM scaffolds with aligned microchannels increased cellular infiltration and proliferation in the damaged tendon, resulting in improved restoration of rat tendon post-injury [84].
	Human acellular dermal matrix graft for canine tendon repair.	Decellularized dermal ECM.	Within 12 weeks of implantation, the graft restored tendon functionality and mimicked autologous tendon both histologically and mechanically [24].