Tissue engineering in the USA

Tissue engineering is the application of the principles and methods of engineering and the life sciences towards the development of biological substitutes to restore, maintain or improve functions. It is an area which is emerging in importance worldwide. In the USA it has been actively fostered by the National Science Foundation, both through research grants and the sponsorship of a series of workshops starting in 1988. This brief review of activities in the USA focuses on cell culture technology as a foundation for tissue engineering and then discusses examples of applications. These include artificial skin and the use of encapsulated cells in the development of bioartificial organs. Also discussed is the reconstitution of a blood vessel in culture, both for use in basic research and for implantation as an artificial blood vessel in bypass surgery. In conclusion, other potential applications are mentioned as well as generic areas of technology for future development.

[1]  P. Tresco,et al.  Transplantation of polymer encapsulated neurotransmitter secreting cells: effect of the encapsulation technique. , 1991, Journal of biomechanical engineering.

[2]  P. Libby,et al.  Implantation of vascular grafts lined with genetically modified endothelial cells. , 1989, Science.

[3]  P. D. de Groot,et al.  Reconstitution of the vascular wall in vitro. A novel model to study interactions between endothelial and smooth muscle cells. , 1986, Experimental cell research.

[4]  C. Colton,et al.  Bioengineering in development of the hybrid artificial pancreas. , 1991, Journal of biomechanical engineering.

[5]  E Bell,et al.  The reconstitution of living skin. , 1983, The Journal of investigative dermatology.

[6]  E Bell,et al.  Living tissue formed in vitro and accepted as skin-equivalent tissue of full thickness. , 1981, Science.

[7]  R Langer,et al.  Tissue engineering by cell transplantation using degradable polymer substrates. , 1991, Journal of biomechanical engineering.

[8]  M. Dauzvardis,et al.  Carbon filament implants promote axonal growth across the transected rat spinal cord , 1991, Brain Research.

[9]  R. Skalak,et al.  Tissue engineering : a brief overview , 1991 .

[10]  I. Yannas,et al.  Wound tissue can utilize a polymeric template to synthesize a functional extension of skin. , 1982, Science.

[11]  D. W. Vinter,et al.  Enhanced patency of small-diameter, externally supported Dacron iliofemoral grafts seeded with endothelial cells. , 1982, Surgery.

[12]  D R Walt,et al.  Chemical sensors based on controlled-release polymer systems , 1991, Science.

[13]  R. Nerem,et al.  The Influence of Shear Stress on Cultured Vascular Endothelial Cells: The Stress Response of an Anchorage‐Dependent Mammalian Cell , 1989 .

[14]  P. Zilla.  Endothelialization of vascular grafts , 1991, Current opinion in cardiology.

[15]  R. Nerem,et al.  Hemodynamic influences on vascular endothelial biology. , 1990, Toxicologic pathology.

[16]  E. Nabel,et al.  Gene transfer and cardiovascular disease. , 1991, Trends in cardiovascular medicine.

[17]  R M Nerem,et al.  The elongation and orientation of cultured endothelial cells in response to shear stress. , 1985, Journal of biomechanical engineering.

[18]  E Bell,et al.  A blood vessel model constructed from collagen and cultured vascular cells. , 1986, Science.

[19]  F. Lim,et al.  Microencapsulated islets as bioartificial endocrine pancreas. , 1980, Science.

[20]  D. Schoenfeld,et al.  Increased survival after massive thermal injuries in adults: preliminary report using artificial skin. , 1989, Critical care medicine.

[21]  R. Pool.  Slow going for blood substitutes. , 1990, Science.

[22]  R M Nerem,et al.  Vascular endothelial cell proliferation in culture and the influence of flow. , 1990, Biomaterials.

[23]  P. Jones,et al.  Construction of an artificial blood vessel wall from cultured endothelial and smooth muscle cells. , 1979, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[24]  R Langer,et al.  New methods of drug delivery. , 1990, Science.