What are tissue engineering scaffolding?

tissue engineering scaffolding are structures made of artificial or natural substances that act as a shape on which cells can grow. The scaffolding may be inert and not interact with increasing cells, or can actively help cells by releasing chemical signals. Such scaffolding is useful in restoring or replacing lost human tissue. To this end, tissue engineers need shape - or scaffolding - on which cells can grow, as cells grown in the laboratory do not form shapes themselves; Instead, they spread in two -dimensional form. The scaffolding is designed to stimulate cells to attach and grow in a specific predetermined shape.

scaffolding can be made of different substances. These include plastics, silk proteins, ceramics of calcium phosphate and even natural polymers such as collagen. In 2010, the Spanish research hospital experimented at the human hearts taken from donors and deprived of all cells, so the collagen structure remained behind. The aim was toTake cells from a patient who needs heart transplantation and allow cells to grow in collagen frame, and create a new heart on which the immune system does not attack as foreign.

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tissue engineering scaffolding must be porous. The pores allow cells to interconnect and grip. Ideally, the scaffolding should also release chemicals that help promote cell migration, cell adhesion and differentiation into specialized cells. Another advantage of some tissue engineering scaffolding is that they are biodegradable, so they disintegrate as soon as the cells are formed into the desired shape.

The main problem with some scaffolding of tissue engineering is that cells need to grow oxygen and nutrients. Cells can migrate scaffolding pores to some extent. However, once the cells begin too deep into the pores, they do not get enough nutrients or oxygen because the upper layer of the cells block the movement of nutrients and acidLip to the lower layers. One innovation, called a firm free scaffold (SFF), is bypassed by this problem because it is designed with artificial blood vessels that carry these nutrients around the structure and remove waste products. In 2011, scaffolding of tissue engineering SFF was experimented to improve the artificial blood vessel system, so large complex organs can be produced.

Scientists have already produced the skin by incineration of the patient's skin cells on the collagen structure. The skin is a two -dimensional structure, so the problem with the diffusion of oxygen and nutrients did not adhere to the development. This skin is used in the treatment involving skin grafts.