Orchestrating Cell/Material Interactions For Tissue Engineering of Surgical Implants

Abstract

Research groups are currently recognising a critical clinical need for innovative approaches to organ failure and agenesis. Allografting, autologous reconstruction and prosthetics are hampered with severe limitations. Pertinently, readily available 'laboratory-grown' organs and implants are becoming a reality. Tissue engineering constructs vary in their design complexity depending on the specific structural and functional demands. Expeditious methods on integrating autologous stem cells onto nanoarchitectured 3D nanocomposites, are being transferred from lab to patients with a number of successful first-in-man experiences. Despite the need for a complete understanding of cell/material interactions tissue engineering is offering a plethora of exciting possibilities in regenerative medicine.

Advances in Skin Regeneration Using Tissue Engineering

“…Among the tissue engineered organs, skin was the first engineered organ that went from laboratory research to patient care [2]. Over recent decades, various bioengineered and synthetic substitutes have been developed, which are generally positioned within the injury and provide the barrier function along with protection against microorganisms, reduction of pain in wounds, and promotion of wound healing by tissue regeneration [3,4,5]. …”

Tissue-Engineered Organs

“…A recently developed polymer, Polyhedraloligomeric silsesquioxane/poly(carbonateurea) urethane (POSS-PCU) is a highly biocompatible nanocomposite which has demonstrated many of the ideal characteristics for tissue engineering numerous implants [1].…”

“…Other advances in biomaterial engineering include the development of conducting polymers which may find roles in neural tissue engineering, and ionic polymer metal composites that can induce movement with appropriate stimulation and therefore may serve roles in the development of artificial muscles or dynamic sensors [1].…”

“…There have been successes, however, as evidenced by functioning autologous bioengineered tissues that have been implanted in humans e including trachea, blood vessels, pulmonary valves, endothelialized vascular stents, and urinary bladder [1]. An examination of the building blocks of tissue-engineering strategies, as well as the successful applications of these techniques in human clinical applications, provides an insight into the difficulties facing scientists as they seek to develop more complex bioengineered organs.…”

How Can Nanotechnology Help to Repair the Body? Advances in Cardiac, Skin, Bone, Cartilage and Nerve Tissue Regeneration

“…Tissue engineering, which is an alternative option for organ transplantation, is currently demonstrating great promise with first-in-man successful stories of tissue engineered implants [1]. This interdisciplinary science has as ultimate goal to design artifacts that (i) mimic natural tissues characteristics; (ii) fill up a space until the damage tissue is regenerated; (iii) temporarily replace tissue functions and; (iv) serve as a guide for tissue ingrowths.…”