Which of the following is NOT an aim of tendon tissue engineering?

Preventing differentiation into tenocytes is not an objective of tendon tissue engineering. The primary aim of tendon tissue engineering is to promote the growth and integration of functional tissue that closely resembles native tendon structure and function. This includes encouraging the differentiation of progenitor or stem cells into tenocytes, which are the specialized cells responsible for producing collagen and maintaining the extracellular matrix in tendons.

Minimizing scar tissue formation is a critical goal because excessive scarring can interfere with the mechanical properties and functionality of the healed tendon. Restoring native biomechanical properties is essential to ensure the engineered tendon can withstand the forces that are imposed during normal physiological activities. Achieving aligned collagen fibers is also a key objective since the mechanical strength and function of tendons are largely determined by the organization and orientation of collagen. Properly aligned collagen fibers are crucial for mimicking the mechanical behavior of natural tendons.