Tissue engineering is an emerging interdisciplinary field that applies the principles of biology and engineering to the development of viable substitutes that restore, maintain or improve the function of human tissues. This form of therapy differs from standard drug therapy in that the engineered tissue becomes integrated within the patient and has the potential to offer a permanent and specific cure for the disease state.
Although cells have been cultured outside the body for many years, it has recently been possible to grow complex three-dimensional tissue constructs in the laboratory in vitro to meet clinical needs. Many textile designs have been produced to reproduce the fibrous architecture of tissues that need augmenting (supporting) or replacing (prosthetic) in the human body. Tissue engineering concepts of producing a lattice for the ingrowth of cells in vivo to lay down the appropriate matrix have been used very successfully for the skin, and for the repair of the fascia in hernias. The concept has also been utilised in the development of a cartilage support matrix that has seventeen years of clinical experience in various joints in the body.
Minns RJ. Tissue Engineered Synthetic Scaffolds for Tissue Repair - A Textile Approach to Implant Design. CRC Press.
Dr. R. Julian Minns, NGH Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne. Tel: +44 (0)191-233-6161.
Regional Medical Physics Department, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BE, UK.
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Regional Medical Physics Department, a Clinical Directorate of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
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