Organ engineering – combining stem cells, biomaterials, and bioreactors to produce bioengineered organs for transplantation

Abstract

Often the only treatment available for patients suffering from diseased and injured organs is whole organ transplant. However, there is a severe shortage of donor organs for transplantation. The goal of organ engineering is to construct biological substitutes that will restore and maintain normal function in diseased and injured tissues. Recent progress in stem cell biology, biomaterials, and processes such as organ decellularization and electrospinning has resulted in the generation of bioengineered blood vessels, heart valves, livers, kidneys, bladders, and airways. Future advances that may have a significant impact for the field include safe methods to reprogram a patient's own cells to directly differentiate into functional replacement cell types. The subsequent combination of these cells with natural, synthetic and/or decellularized organ materials to generate functional tissue substitutes is a real possibility. This essay reviews the current progress, developments, and challenges facing researchers in their goal to create replacement tissues and organs for patients.

Dextran Preserves Native Corneal Structure During Decellularization

“…Decellularization involves removing nuclear and cellular material whilst preserving the structural components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) (20). Scaffolds derived by this method from a variety of tissues and organs have had clinical success (21,22), however, worldwide shortage of viable cadaveric corneal tissue has led to the exploration of alternative tissue sources.…”

Biocompatibility of Poly(ester amide) (PEA) Microfibrils in Ocular Tissues

“…Biomaterials are used in several clinical applications, e.g., joint replacement by metal-based materials [24], heart valves [25], blood vessel prosthesis [26,27], breast implants [28], as well as for drug delivery, such as delivery of subcutaneous contraceptives [29] among others. In ophthalmology biomaterials are used extensively as intraocular lenses and contact lenses and since 1996 with the approval by the FDA of Vitrosert ® (Bausch & Lomb), an intravitreal implantable biomaterial, has been used to deliver ganciclovir for the treatment of CMV retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).…”

Induced Pluripotent and Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Promising Tool for Articular Cartilage Regeneration

“…Alginate is an anionic polysaccharide with crosslinking properties. Synthetic polyesters such as PGA, PLA and PLGA are biodegradable, biocompatible and are also approved by FDA for clinical applications [20].…”