Tissue Engineering: From Biology to Biological Substitutes

TLDR

Tissue engineering combines cell and biomaterials science to create bioartificial implants or promote tissue remodeling for repairing or enhancing organ function, requiring a deep understanding of cellular environments in native tissues and implanted devices. This review surveys the current status and future prospects of bioartificial constructs—including skin, cardiovascular, pancreatic, and encapsulated secretory cells—while highlighting key challenges such as developing new cell lines, biomaterials, optimal architectures, and reproducible manufacturing. The authors analyze the design and development of these constructs, discussing how cell–biomaterial integration and construct architecture influence performance and clinical translation.

Abstract

Tissue engineering is an emerging multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary field involving the development of bioartificial implants and/or the fostering of tissue remodeling with the purpose of repairing or enhancing tissue or organ function. Bioartificial constructs generally consist of cells and biomaterials, so tissue engineering draws from both cell and biomaterials science and technology. Successful applications require a thorough understanding of the environment experienced by cells in normal tissues and by cells in bioartificial devices before and after implantation. This paper reviews these topics, as well as the current status and future possibilities in the development of different bioartificial constructs, including bioartificial skin, cardiovascular implants, bioartificial pancreas, and encapsulated secretory cells. Issues that need to be addressed in the future are also discussed. These include, but are not limited to, the development of new cell lines and biomaterials, the evaluation of the optimal construct architecture, and the reproducible manufacture and preservation of bioartificial devices until ready for use.