Tissue engineering (also called “Regenerative Medicine”) refers to the attempt to create
functional human tissue from cells in a laboratory.
Its ultimate goal is to be a cure, not merely treatment – by repairing or replacing tissues
and organs that fail due to disease, genetic errors, congenital abnormalities, or traumatic injury.
Tissue engineering relies on four important factors: the right cells to do the job, the
right environment, such as a scaffold, to support the cells, the right biomolecules,
like growth factors, to make those cells healthy and productive, and physical and mechanical
forces to influence the development of the cells.
The cells can be directly harvested from the target organ, developed from precursor—or
stem—cells, or taken from lines grown in the lab all, ideally, from the patient, as
that limits problems with rejection.
The supporting structures can be derived from donor tissue from natural or synthetic polymers
made to order for their strength or endurance.
Biomolecules can be added directly, or coaxed from the cells that take up residence on the
scaffold. Sometimes the scaffolds dissolve over time, but others remain to provide support
to the organ.
Some examples of tissues and organs that have already been successfully tissue engineered
and implanted in humans include bladders, small arteries, skin grafts, cartilage and
even a full trachea.