Issn Print: 1058-2916

Publication Date: 2002/03/01


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“QUO VADIS” TISSUE ENGINEERING?

Ivanka J. Zdrahala; Richard J. Zdrahala

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Author Information: R&I Consulting International, 6825 Stonewood Ct., Eden Prairie, MN.

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Excerpt

Since its inception, Tissue Engineering (TE) focuses on creation of functional tissue assemblies to augment or replace diseased tissues of the living system. Perhaps Genzyme's Carticel(TM) opened door for “Ex-Vivo” (Perti Dish or Bioreactor) formation of muscular-skeletal, soft and cardiovascular tissues and neural connectors for repairs as daring as spinal cord reconnection. Two-dimensional cell assemblies often resulted where three-dimensional were expected. The host rejection frequently dominated host-implant symbiosis.
Where we need to go? Quo Vadis TE?
The concepts of In-Vivo TE were introduced to address drawbacks of Ex-Vivo approach. Our concept (1,2) combines what is needed to build three-dimensional, porous, biodegradable cell-populated implant at the site of repair.
This presentation addresses current status and future of TE. It postulates the concept of Reversed-Engineering of living tissue as a tool for viewing, analyzing, modeling and building the assembly of cells called “organ”, fulfilling compositional and functional elements of the host. It offers guidelines which could unify building approach to what we want to build, e.g. bone, ligament, cartilage, heart muscle, vascular conduit or soft tissue.
(1) R.J. Zdrahala and I.J. Zdrahala, 2000, “In Vivo Tissue Engineering: A Bridge between Mechanistic and Genetic Medicine”, ASAIO Journal 46, 2, p.236.
(2) R.J. Zdrahala and I.J. Zdrahala, 1999, “In Vivo Tissue Engineering, Part I. Concept Genesis and Guidelines for its Realization”, Journal of Biomaterials Applications (JBA) 14(2) p.192.
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