Introduction
Tissue engineering is a discovery in the field of science. It was once a sub-field of biomaterials but due to considerable improvements in the sub-field, it is now a field on its own. Regenerative medicine is also used in place of this term. This is the process whereby cells and a combination of other factors are engineered. This is done to provide improvement or replacement of biological functions. It is the process whereby certain parts of the body tissues or an organ as a whole, are repaired or replaced. The tissues involved include the skin, bladder, bones, blood vessels, or cartilage (Langer and Vacanti 920).
Tissue engineering
Langer and Vacanti defined tissue engineering as “an interdisciplinary field that applies the principles of engineering and life science towards the development of biological substitutes that restore, maintain, or improve tissue functions or a whole organ” (922). It has also been defined as an “understanding of the principles of tissue growth, and its application to produce functional replacement tissue for clinical use” (Langer and Vacanti 923). The tissues that are usually involved in this process are those that require structural and mechanical properties to function properly. It can also be said to be the process of using cells to perform certain biochemical functions. This is done within a support system that has been created artificially. The artificially made organs include the liver (bio-artificial liver) and pancreas (artificial pancreas).
Through tissue engineering, various interventions have been made in the field of medicine. This has led to the production of tissue replacement parts. However, challenges have also faced this new intervention. One of them includes the need for more complex functionality. Another issue is in the functionality and stability of the artificially made tissues. Further research is needed to finally develop the human replacement tissues or organs that would match the actual organs.
There are several examples of tissues that have been derived from tissue engineering. One example is in vitro meat. This edible muscle tissue was developed artificially. It was cultured in vitro. An artificial pancreas was developed using islet cells. It was used to produce and regulate insulin in the body. This was important particularly to the persons who had diabetes. Artificially made bladders have also been tested and proven to be successful. Knee cartilages have also been repaired using tissues that had been engineered in the laboratories. Other examples include tissue-engineered airways, artificial skin, artificial bone marrow, artificial penises, and many more.
This form of innovation (tissue engineering) uses the body cells as the raw materials. Examples of the cells used include the chondrocytes and fibroblasts. These are used for repairing cartilages and the skin respectively. To extract the required cells, centrifugation is conducted on the fluid tissue. This includes the blood. When extracting from solid tissue, the tissue must first be minced. It is then digested using some enzymes to release the cells.
When the cells have been extracted, they are placed in a bioreactor where they can grow in vivo. A bioreactor provides an environment conducive for the process and the required tissues are produced.
Conclusion
Tissue engineering is the process of producing artificial tissues. It is necessary for repairing tissues or replacing organs in the human body. This innovation has brought success in medicine since it has helped in the engineering of necessary tissues such as the skin, bone marrow, bones, and pancreas. Several challenges face this concept but with more research, these challenges can be eliminated.
Works Cited
Langer, Robert, and Joseph Vacanti. “Tissue Engineering.” Science 260.5110 (1993): 920-926. Print.