The goal of tissue engineering is to mitigate the critical shortage of donor organs via in vitro fabrication of functional biological structures. Tissue engineering is one of the most prominent ...examples of interdisciplinary fields, where scientists with different backgrounds work together to boost the quality of life by addressing critical health issues. Many different fields, such as developmental and molecular biology, as well as technologies, such as micro- and nanotechnologies and additive manufacturing, have been integral for advancing the field of tissue engineering. Over the past 20 years, spectacular advancements have been achieved to harness nature's ability to cure diseased tissues and organs. Patients have received laboratory-grown tissues and organs made out of their own cells, thus eliminating the risk of rejection. However, challenges remain when addressing more complex solid organs such as the heart, liver, and kidney. Herein, we review recent accomplishments as well as challenges that must be addressed in the field of tissue engineering and provide a perspective regarding strategies in further development.
Vascular tissue engineering has the potential to make a significant impact on the treatment of a wide variety of medical conditions, including providing
generated vascularized tissue and organ ...constructs for transplantation. Since the first report on the construction of a biological blood vessel, significant research and technological advances have led to the generation of clinically relevant large and small diameter tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs). However, developing a biocompatible blood-contacting surface is still a major challenge. Researchers are using biomimicry to generate functional vascular grafts and vascular networks. A multi-disciplinary approach is being used that includes biomaterials, cells, pro-angiogenic factors and microfabrication technologies. Techniques to achieve spatiotemporal control of vascularization include use of topographical engineering and controlled-release of growth/pro-angiogenic factors. Use of decellularized natural scaffolds has gained popularity for engineering complex vascularized organs for potential clinical use. Pre-vascularization of constructs prior to implantation has also been shown to enhance its anastomosis after implantation. Host-implant anastomosis is a phenomenon that is still not fully understood. However, it will be a critical factor in determining the
success of a TEVGs or bioengineered organ. Many clinical studies have been conducted using TEVGs, but vascularized tissue/organ constructs are still in the research & development stage. In addition to technical challenges, there are commercialization and regulatory challenges that need to be addressed. In this review we examine recent advances in the field of vascular tissue engineering, with a focus on technology trends, challenges and potential clinical applications.
Clinical translation requires many areas of expertise, including preclinical research, technology transfer, process development, regulatory adherence, manufacturing, quality assurance, quality ...control, clinical trial design, and human trials. The resulting work proposed that adipose‐derived human perivascular stem cells were a new cell source for efforts in skeletal regenerative medicine and are a stem cell‐based therapeutic that may be readily approvable by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, with potentially increased safety, purity, identity, potency, and efficacy.The article “Bioprinted Amniotic Fluid‐Derived Stem Cells Accelerate Healing of Large Skin Wounds,” by Soker and colleagues 4, investigated whether amniotic fluid‐derived stem cells could augment wound healing in a mouse model of skin regeneration. In the article “Mesenchymal Stem Cell‐Derived Extracellular Vesicles as Mediators of Anti‐Inflammatory Effects: Endorsement of Macrophage Polarization,” Tasso and colleagues 7 looked at how mesenchymal stem cell paracrine activity favors tissue repair modulating inflammation‐associated immune cells and offer an alternative approach to regulate the inflammatory response. ...osteoarthritis is the most widespread musculoskeletal disorder in adults, leading to cartilage damage, inflammation, pain, and disability.
Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering technology may soon offer new hope for patients with serious injuries and end-stage reproductive organ failure. Scientists are now applying the principles ...of cell transplantation, material science, and bioengineering to construct biological substitutes that can restore and maintain normal function in diseased and injured reproductive tissues. In addition, the stem cell field is advancing, and new discoveries in this field will lead to new therapeutic strategies. For example, newly discovered types of stem cells have been retrieved from uterine tissues such as amniotic fluid and placental stem cells. The process of therapeutic cloning and the creation of induced pluripotent cells provide still other potential sources of stem cells for cell-based tissue engineering applications. Although stem cells are still in the research phase, some therapies arising from tissue engineering endeavors that make use of autologous adult cells have already entered the clinic. This article discusses these tissue engineering strategies for various organs in the male and female reproductive tract.
In the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, social distancing has been necessary to help prevent disease transmission. As a result, medical practices have limited access to in-person ...visits. This poses a challenge to maintain appropriate patient care while preventing a substantial backlog of patients once stay-at-home restrictions are lifted. In practices that are naïve to telehealth as an alternative option, providers and staff are experiencing challenges with telemedicine implementation. We aim to provide a comprehensive guide on how to rapidly integrate telemedicine into practice during a pandemic.
We built a toolkit that details the following 8 essential components to successful implementation of a telemedicine platform: provider and staff training, patient education, an existing electronic medical record system, patient and provider investment in hardware, billing and coding integration, information technology support, audiovisual platforms, and patient and caregiver participation.
Rapid integration of telemedicine in our practice was required to be compliant with our institution’s COVID-19 task force. Within 3 days of this declaration, our large specialty-care clinic converted to a telemedicine platform and we completed 638 visits within the first month of implementation.
Effective and efficient integration of a telemedicine program requires extensive staff and patient education, accessory platforms to facilitate video and audio communication, and adoption of new billing codes that are outlined in this toolkit.
In the second most‐read paper, Campbell et al reported on the first randomized controlled trial of allogeneic corneal epithelial stem cells cultured on amniotic membrane in the treatment of severe ...bilateral limbal stem cell deficiency, demonstrating the feasibility and safety of this approach. The most‐read papers also included important laboratory research findings, such as the third most‐read paper from Mellough et al, which compared retinal organoid differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells and revealed stage specific, cell line, and methodological differences. In another example, Zhu et al found, for the first time, that diabetes mellitus impairs the bone regenerative effect of exosomes derived from bone marrow MSCs, suggesting that the autologous transplantation of these cells to promote bone regeneration may be inadequate in these patients.
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.
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 replacement tissues and organs for patients.
Evaluation of hydrogels for bio-printing applications Murphy, Sean V.; Skardal, Aleksander; Atala, Anthony
Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A,
January 2013, Letnik:
101A, Številka:
1
Journal Article