Nathan Schiele, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering at the University of Idaho, discusses his research on tendon repair in a new episode released on April 14. Schiele and his team are working to understand what gives tendons their strength and how to grow tendon-like tissue from mouse stem cells.
The topic is important because tendons play a crucial role in connecting muscle to bone and enabling movement. Injuries to these tissues are common but often difficult to heal, leading researchers like Schiele to seek better treatments.
In the episode, Schiele explains that tendons act as force transmitters due to their organized collagen structures. He says his lab studies how cells produce lysyl oxidase, an enzyme essential for strengthening collagen by cross-linking fibers. By examining both chemical and mechanical signals that affect these fibers, the team hopes to guide cells toward building stronger tendon tissue.
Schiele also describes efforts in his lab to grow tendon-like structures using cell self-assembly methods that mimic early embryonic development. Advances in 3D imaging and machine learning help visualize these structures more clearly, which could improve future treatments for tendon injuries.
The discussion highlights how combining biology with engineering principles can lead to progress in regenerative medicine. According to Schiele, discoveries made today may eventually help patients recover more fully from injuries that currently result in lasting limitations.
