Tissue engineering refers to methods that are based on the use of scaffolds, cells and biologically active molecules to produce specific tissues. The goals of all these methods, construction scaffolds which have the ability restore, maintain, or improve damaged tissues or whole organs. Neural regenerative medicine, by using the technique of tissue engineering, attempts to provide solutions to such problems. Cell sources, signaling factors, and scaffolds are three basic components for tissue engineering. Figure 1. Schematic of three basic components for tissue engineering
This section reviews current research on neural tissue engineering, focusing on important advances as well as major obstacles in this field. In addition to supporting cellular
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NDs are unique from other biomaterials in their ability to provide all of these traits as a single nanomaterial, which has inspired researchers to investigate NDs for a broad range of applications in regenerative medicine with a particular focus on bone and neural tissue engineering. They can be designed to control cell adhesion and proliferation. For instance, the unique nanoscale properties of NDs, specifically their surface charge distribution, facilitates the physical adsorption of cell-adhesive serum proteins to the surface of the nanoparticle, and this resulting cellular interface has been investigated for use primarily in bone regeneration and more recently for neural tissue engineering. Recently, NDs have been utilized as cell-adhesive surface coatings for scaffolds, as coatings to improve tribological properties of implants, and as nanofillers to reinforce the mechanical properties of composite scaffolds. Finally, several emerging trends in ND-based tissue engineering will be discussed, in regards to the strategies that incorporate NDs as a multifunctional delivery platform in scaffold
The cells unique nature has scientists intrigued to do research with the focus of finding a way that these cells can be used to replace patients’ injured or diseased tissues. Advancement is made to all the three types of stem cells namely embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells in addition to induced pluripotent cells. Embryonic cells are the building blocks of an embryo that is developing, and can develop into almost all body cell types. Somatic cells are found in the body tissues. They renew and regenerate in healthy bodies. The third type which is induced pluripotent is genetically modified embryo cells from skin cells.2 Research on these cells are geared towards saving humanity; a noble course.
...e materials at the nanoscale might include new form of nanobase toxicity. The individuals working with large quantity of nanomaterials need to take appropriate measures to avoid inhalation and ingestion. However, scientists have found silicon o be good for the construction of nanorobots because of its unique properties; durability, flexibility and conductivity. However, silicon cannot dissolve in body fluids. In addition, in medical applications biodegradability is going to be challenge due to the foreign particles inside the body and controlled mobility.
Brendan Maher, in his article “How to Build a Heart” discusses doctor’s and engineer’s research and experimentation into the field of regenerative medicine. Maher talks about several different researchers in this fields. One is Doris Taylor, the director of regenerative medicine at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston. Her job includes harvesting organs such as hearts and lungs and re-engineering them starting with the cells. She attempts to bring the back to life in order to be used for people who are on transplant waiting lists. She hopes to be able to make the number of people waiting for transplants diminish with her research but it is a very difficult process. Maher says that researchers have had some successes when it comes to rebuilding organs but only with simples ones such as a bladder. A heart is much more complicated and requires many more cells to do all the functions it needs to. New organs have to be able to do several things in order for them to be used in humans that are still alive. They need to be sterile, able to grow, able to repair themselves, and work. Taylor has led some of the first successful experiments to build rat hearts and is hopeful of a good outcome with tissue rebuilding and engineering. Scientists have been able to make beating heart cells in a petri dish but the main issue now is developing a scaffold for these cells so that they can form in three dimension. Harold Ott, a surgeon from Massachusetts General Hospital and studied under Taylor, has a method that he developed while training. Detergent is pumped into a glass chamber where a heart is suspended and this detergent strips away everything except a layer of collagen, laminins, and other proteins. The hard part according to Ott is making s...
...uscle tissue regeneration, the potential cure for neurodegenerative disease, and the potential use of therapeutic cloning. SC is the future of regenerative medicine, so why hinder the research if it has a lot of potential to save lives?
Because stem cells are essentially a blank slate, scientists are theoretically capable of growing any human tissue cell. There is enormous medical potential in this. Stem cell research is the next step in advancing the medical field. It is comparable to the discovery of penicillin or the inoculation for smallpox.
...velopment of tissues to replace damaged organs in the human body. Scientists have discovered for the first time how stem cells could be generated from embryo’s that were produced using adult stem cells.
This paper focuses on the benefits of stem cell research in the medical and nursing field. New technology is always being created to help us understand the way the human body works, as well as ways to help us improve diseased states in the body. Our bodies have the ability to proliferate or regrow cells when damage is done to the cells. Take for example the skin, when an abrasion or puncture to the skin causes loss of our skin cells, the body has its own way of causing those cells to regrow. The liver, bone marrow, heart, brain, and muscle all have cells that are capable of differentiating into cells of that same type. These are called stem cells, and are a new medical tool that is helping regrow vital organs in our body to help us survive. Stem cells can come from adult cells, or the blastocyst of the embryo. The cells that come from these are undifferentiated, and can be specialized into certain cell types, making them available for many damaged tissues in the body. While using stem cells in the body is a main use, they are also being used to help doctors understand how disease processes start. By culturing these cells in the lab and watching them develop into muscles, nerve cells, or other tissues, researchers are able to see how diseases affect these cells and possibly discover ways to correct these diseases. While researchers have come very far in using stem cells, there are still many controversies to overcome when using these cells.
These kinds of polymers have both some advantages and disadvantages. Although they are bioactive and biodegradable and provide high comppressive strength, Degradation of such polymers leads to undesired tissue response due to producing acid formation in degradation process. Metallic scaffolds are another method for bone repair and regenaration. They provide high compressive strength and enormous permanent strength. Metallic scaffolds are mainly made of titanium and talium metals. The main disadvantages of metallic scaffolds are not biodegradable and also discharge metal ions. Recent studies in metallic scaffolds mainly focus on biodegradable materials which can be used improve bioactivity of metals such as titanium.
The medical field has also reaped the benefits of genetic engineering. With the recent discoveries and understanding of so many debilitating diseases and injuries, researchers are working to develop new ways to keep humans healthier for longer amounts of time. Advances in technology, genetic engineering procedures, and new medicines have allowed researchers to discover methods that can be used to help those suffering from many diseases and injuries. According to an article entitled Genetic Engineering Breakthrough published in the News Medical, “Scientists have made extensive breakthroughs in muscle regeneration. They are attempting to help bed-ridden patients and elite athletes by engineering a ‘switch’ that will allow mutations or light signals to be turned on in muscle stem cells.” This discovery may also be used as a tool for the study of difficult-to-treat muscle cancers. Dr. Charles Keller, M.D., assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center and a senior researcher involved in the work, stated that "We hope that the genetically-engineered mouse models we developed will help scientists and clinicians better understand how to make muscle stem cells regenerate muscle
Genes are, basically, the blueprints of our body which are passed down from generation to generation. Through the exploration of these inherited materials, scientists have ventured into the recent, and rather controversial, field of genetic engineering. It is described as the "artificial modification of the genetic code of a living organism", and involves the "manipulation and alteration of inborn characteristics" by humans (Lanza). Like many other issues, genetic engineering has sparked a heated debate. Some people believe that it has the potential to become the new "miracle tool" of medicine. To others, this new technology borders on the realm of immorality, and is an omen of the danger to come, and are firmly convinced that this human intervention into nature is unethical, and will bring about the destruction of mankind (Lanza).
Many great inventions have been made through research in biomedical engineering, for example, genetic engineering, cloning, and insulin. After insulin has been invented, there are still a lot of problems with the purity and the quantity of the insulin produced. Biomedical engineering devised a way to produce large quantities of insulin with a higher level of purity, which has saved a lot of human lives. Although biomedical engineering just been officially founded 200 years ago, its practice has been with us for centuries. According to The Whitaker Foundation website, 3,000-year-old mummy from Thebes, which uncovered by German archeologists, with a wooden prosthetic tied to its foot to serve as a big toe is the oldest known limb prosthesis and Egyptian listen to the internal of human anatomy using a hollow reed, which is what today’s stethoscope. No matter what the date, biomedical engineering has provided advances in medical technology to improve human health. These advances by biomedical engineering have created a significant impact to our lives. I have determined to become a biomedical engineer. Biomedical engineering will have a good prospect because it will become one of the most important careers in the future.
Biomedical engineering, also known as “bioengineering”, is a branch of engineering that combines the design and problem solving techniques of engineering with biological and medical sciences to improve health-related and medical problems. Bioengineers have made many positive changes in many lives today. By designing live-saving objects such as artificial hearts, dialysis machines, and surgical lasers bioengineers have helped save many lives.
One of the most beneficial aspects to cloning is the ability to duplicate organs. Many patients in hospitals are waiting for transplants and many of them are dying because they are not receiving a needed organ. To solve this problem, scientists have been using embryonic stem cells to produce organs or tissues to repair or replace damaged ones (Human Cloning). Skin for burn victims, brain cells for the brain damaged, hearts, lungs, livers, and kidneys can all be produced. By combining the technology of stem cell research and human cloning, it will be possible to produce the needed tissues and organs for patients in desperate need for a transplant (Human Cloning). The waiting list for transplants will become a lot shorter and a lot less people will have to suff...
For the biotechnology industry, the future is now. Biotech companies are producing new and improved drugs, mapping the genome, and creating artificial organs and body parts. The advent of these new products will increase the quality of life for those who have access to them. Advancements in the biotechnology field have received a lot attention by the press and publications. They have given the impression that it is almost imperative to learn about this fairly new field of study.
The field of regenerative medicine encompasses numerous strategies, including the use of materials and de novo generated cells, as well as various combinations thereof, to take the place of missing tissue, effectively replacing it both structurally and functionally, or to contribute to tissue healing[29]