Generation and Transplantation of an Autologous Vascularized Bioartificial Human Tissue

Abstract

The feasibility to bioengineer a human tissue with an innate vascularization has been shown in vitro and the clinical setting. These results may open the door for the clinical application of various sophisticated bioartificial tissue substitutes and organ replacements.

Improved vascular organization enhances functional integration of engineered skeletal muscle grafts

“…angiogenesis | tissue engineering | vascular biology | regenerative medicine F laps serve as important elements in reconstructive surgery, however, the availability of quality autologous muscle flaps, donor site morbidity, length of procedures, and cosmetic concerns present significant limiting factors (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6). Tissue survival is dependent on oxygen supply, which is limited to a diffusion distance of up to 300 μm from a supplying blood vessel (7,8).…”

Will Regenerative Medicine Replace Transplantation?

“…Although none of the immunology-based presumed tolerogenic strategies have ever been able to achieve these goals, regenerative medicine technologies have permitted the bioengineering of relatively simple, hollow organs from a patient's own cells. These organs have been implanted in more than 160 patients suffering from different medical conditions without the need for antirejection treatment (Romagnoli et al 1990;Pellegrini et al 1997;Quarto et al 2001;Shinoka et al 2001;Warnke et al 2004;Atala et al 2006;Macchiarini et al 2008;McAllister et al 2009;Mertsching et al 2009;Baiguera et al 2010;Hibino et al 2010;Rama et al 2010;Junglebuth et al 2011;Elliott et al 2012;Olausson et al 2012;Orlando et al 2012b). Importantly, these figures far exceed the number of organ recipients who have been successfully weaned off all immunosuppression in the immediate postoperative period.…”

“…Moreover, the perfusion pump may also be considered the precursor of the bioreactors commonly used nowadays in tissue and organ bioengineering, which are sealed mechanical chambers designed to provide appropriate environmental conditions for cellular activity and welfare (Badylak et al 2012). Carrel's pioneering developments on both fronts of organ transplantation and regenerative medicine occurred decades before either became clinical realities, and almost a century before the successful implantation in patients of bioengineered tissues or organs (Romagnoli et al 1990;Pellegrini et al 1997;Quarto et al 2001;Shinoka et al 2001;Warnke et al 2004;Atala et al 2006;Macchiarini et al 2008;McAllister et al 2009;Mertsching et al 2009;Baiguera et al 2010;Hibino et al 2010;Rama et al 2010;Junglebuth et al 2011;Elliott et al 2012;Olausson et al 2012), or the early attempts to bioengineer more complex organs for transplant purposes (Ott et al 2008(Ott et al , 2010Ross et al 2009;Petersen et al 2010;Uygun et al 2010;Wainwright et al 2010;Baptista et al 2011;Hammond et al 2011;Soto-Gutierrez 2011;Barakat et al 2012;Hata et al 2012;Orlando et al 2012a;Yagi et al 2012). …”

Three Dimensional Tissue Models for Research in Oncology

“…Our scaffold thickness was 0.2±0.01 mm. First clinical experience shows, that the BioVaSc is well tolerated and supports an extensive tissue maturation process following implantation (Mertsching et al, 2009). The functional reseeding of the remaining tubular structures of the vascular network within our biological scaffold with endothelial cells was the main objective of this study.…”

“…To control the differentiation of the endothelial cells, we evaluated the endothelial specific markers CD31, VE-Cadherin and Flk-1 by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Anyway the mECs generate an active antithrombotic surface that facilitates transit of plasma and cellular www.intechopen.com constituents (Mertsching et al, 2009). For proper function of the endothelium, integrity is required, i.e.…”