Tissue Engineering

By: EconomyWatch Content Team   Date: 15 April 2011

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When tissue engineering was first worked on, it was considered a sub-field of bio materials. However, over the years thanks to in-depth studies and research, this form of biotechnology has been categorized differently, proving to be far more beneficial than ever imagined. In easy terms, tissue engineering is used to improve or even replace biological functions using cells, engineering, materials methods, and appropriate physiochemical and biochemical elements.

 

Biotechnology in Medicine

 

In truth, the range of applications for which tissue engineering can be used is quite significant and as more information is being identified and understood, the list continues to grow. Although there are multiple uses for tissue engineering, the area primarily benefiting at this time include blood vessels, bone, cartilage, skin, bladder, and others. The way the body is created is that to function properly, specific structural and mechanical properties must be in place and healthy. Unfortunately, when these properties become damaged or fail, a person can become extremely ill or even be faced with death.

 

Stem Cell Research

 

However, with tissue engineering and the incredible advancements that have been made, cells can be artificially created. This means organs that support life such as the pancreas and liver can be regenerated. For this reason, tissue engineering in some instances is referred to as “Regenerative Medicine” although this term is also associated with tissue production associated with stem cells. Regardless, what scientists have discovered so far is making a huge difference for millions of people around the world with anticipation being high that the future will be even brighter.

 

The primary field in which tissue engineering is currently being applied is known as the “interdisciplinary field”. With this biological substitutes used to restore, maintain, and improve tissue function becomes possible. In fact, within this field associated with tissue engineering, entire organs within the body can be restored, maintained, or improved. What has been discovered is that using the system’s natural biology makes it possible for greater success for the development of therapeutic strategies designed to repair, replace, maintain, or enhance function of damaged or failed tissue.

 

The developments that have been realized for tissue engineering are simply miraculous. In addition, because of other advancements made in areas such as stem cells, biomaterials, differentiation factors, grow factors, and biomimetic environments, the possibilities for recreating tissue within a laboratory setting has been vastly improved. In this case, engineered extracellular matrices, which in the scientific world are known as “scaffolds”, along with biologically active molecules and cells, opportunities for tissue fabrication are quickly expanding.

 

Of course, as with any biotechnological discovery, challenges arise. Regarding tissue engineering, the greatest obstacle being faced is that more complex functionality is needed. Additionally, scientists realize that biomechanical and functional stability specific to tissue grown in a laboratory needs to be improved upon before it could be used for transplant surgery. Although numerous trials have proven successful, before tissue transplantation using an engineered product can get official approval needed, these challenges must be overcome. Even so, experts are extremely optimistic that with time, actual human replacement parts will be developed thanks to tissue engineering.

 

While we have touched on a few specific applications for tissue engineering, we wanted to offer a few additional ways in which this biotechnological discovery can make life better.

 

  • Artificial Pancreas – The organ that causes problems for people living with diabetes is the pancreas. Being able to produce and regulate insulin by using islet cells, it is expected that diabetes will one-day be controlled far better, actually saving lives.

 

  • Heart Valves and Vessels – With this type of biotechnology, it has become possible to produce autologous heart valves and vessels using engineered tissue.

 

  • Liver Device – Although still under research, a number of studies show great possibilities for tissue engineering to be used for producing hepatic assist devices using living hepatocytes that would allow the development of a bio-artificial liver device.

 

  • Cartilage – For professional athletes, people with arthritis or other individuals who have sustained cartilage damage to the knees, engineered tissue can be grown within a laboratory setting for successful repair.

 

  • Artificial Skin – The last example of tissue engineering we wanted to mention is the creation of artificial skin. In this case, individuals who have been burned, those with heavy scarring, deformities, or even people who want to recapture a youthful appearance it has become possible to construct artificial skin using human skin cells that have been embedded with levels of collagen.

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