Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
Bioprinting-based approaches for tendon reconstruction: A decade of advancement
Mohammed Sarbaz Shakir, Division of Surgery and Interventional Sciences, University College of London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
Author contributions: Shakir MS solely conceived, researched, drafted, revised, and approved the final version of this manuscript, and is accountable for all aspects of the work.
AI contribution statement: AI tools, specifically Grammarly (Grammarly Inc., current web version), were used solely for grammar checking, language polishing, and formatting assistance. No AI tool was used to design the review, select or interpret the cited literature, generate references, or formulate conclusions. All AI-assisted content was critically reviewed and revised by the author, who takes full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The author declares that there are no conflicts of interest to disclose in relation to this manuscript.
Corresponding author: Mohammed Sarbaz Shakir, Division of Surgery and Interventional Sciences, University College of London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom. mohammed.shakir.24@ucl.ac.uk
Received: August 14, 2026
Revised: August 26, 2026
Accepted: September 20, 2026
Published online: October 18, 2026
Processing time: 63 Days and 5.6 Hours
Revised: August 26, 2026
Accepted: September 20, 2026
Published online: October 18, 2026
Processing time: 63 Days and 5.6 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Three-dimensional bioprinting offers a patient-specific alternative to autografts and allografts for tendon reconstruction, using layered deposition of bioinks, cells, and growth factors to recreate the hierarchical architecture of native tendon. This review summarises a decade of progress in bioink formulation, printing hardware, and biological integration, and outlines the remaining barriers to clinical translation, principally vascularisation of thick constructs, regulatory approval, cost, and the training of surgical teams to work with this technology.