Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 8.1. Schematic illustration of typical tissue engineering
approaches.Cellsareobtainedfromasmallbiopsyfromapatient,expanded
in vitro , and transplanted into the patient either by injection using a needle
orotherminimallyinvasivedeliveryapproachorbyimplantationatthesite
following an incision (cut) by the surgeon to allow placement.
tendon.Severalofthesetissuesarenowatornearclinicalstages. 3 - 8
In addition, various approaches have been introduced to form dif-
ferentiatedorundifferentiatedcells(i.e.,stemcells)intothedesired
cell phenotype. 9
A critical element in virtually all tissue engineering approaches
is the polymer scaffold. With good design the polymer mimics
many roles of extracellular matrices found in tissues. Extracellular
matrices,comprisedofvariousaminoacidsandsugar-basedmacro-
molecules, bring cells together and control the tissue structure, reg-
ulate functions of the cells, and allow the diffusion of nutrients,
 
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