Tissue engineers grow tissue for therapeutic procedures, using cells to produce biomaterials for damaged tissue and organs. They can also create biomolecules for therapeutic treatment and encourage the body to regenerate damaged tissue. Clinical trials are available for those seeking access to the latest in tissue engineering.
A tissue engineer is a biomedical professional who grows tissue for use in therapeutic procedures, from treating crushed nerves to implanting whole organs. This field integrates aspects of biology, genetics, informatics and biomedical engineering. People in this field usually have advanced degrees in medicine, science, or both. Some people refer to tissue engineering as “regenerative medicine”, although that is a slightly different field.
Tissue engineers work with cells in culture to produce a wide variety of biomaterials. Some work on building replacements for damaged tissue such as windpipes, skin and urethra by encouraging cells to grow into a scaffold in the right shape. Using donor cells from the patient, the tissue engineer can create a replacement that the body shouldn’t reject. This can improve the quality of life for people with organ and tissue damage caused by cancer, accidents and other life events.
The process of building whole organs is more complex. In early 2011, tissue engineering had not been successful, but the groundwork had been laid. Growing organs in culture requires growing various types of cells in a complex matrix to create a functional organ or using tools such as three-dimensional printers to create organs according to a blueprint. The ability to grow organs in culture would address critical organ shortages around the world, allowing people with liver, kidney, lung and heart disease to access organs for transplantation.
A tissue engineer can also create biomolecules such as specific proteins and growth factors. These can be useful in therapeutic treatment to trigger the patient’s own body to start growing new tissue or to support the healing of a tissue graft. A tissue engineer can treat a variety of injury types with replacement tissue, and patient outcomes can improve with the use of engineered tissue when compared to donor materials.
In regenerative medicine, the tissue engineer’s focus is less on building tissue outside the body and more on encouraging the patient’s body to regenerate damaged tissue. One example is the use of gel concoctions to treat patients with severed or crushed nerves. These mixtures create a matrix for nerve cells to grow in, regenerating the patient’s nerves in situ. Seed cells of various types can be useful for therapeutic medicine and will be available for early intervention and treatment, allowing doctors to begin seeding immediately in a patient with serious injuries.
For people who want access to the latest in tissue engineering, the best option is to enroll in a clinical trial. People can talk to their doctors about currently open trials and determine if they are eligible.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
