In vitro and in vivo technologies: an up to date overview in tissue engineering

Abstract Traditionally, tissue engineering has evolved toward the development of functional substitutes for whole organs or parts, to replace, restore, maintain, or improve their function. This continually evolving field has been improving, as a result of the emerging technologies in materials science, leading to the obtaining of functional scaffolds that are able to support and maintain the attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of cells. However, these discoveries not only have implications in regenerative medicine, but also might have applications in fundamental research and testing of drug candidates. In this regard, the scientific community has translated the new technological discoveries in the tissue engineering field, to obtain in vitro and in vivo models that better mimic the architecture and function of certain structures and organs, to help in the study of their phenotype and biological mechanisms. One example is the field of cancer research, with implications into both fundamentals of the disease, but also in the discovery and testing of new treatment options. The purpose of this chapter is to present an up to date overview of the in vitro and in vivo technologies in the tissue engineering field, that have applications in the development of better tumor models for the study of mechanisms and possible therapeutic approaches.