Tissue engineering: biomedical applications

Abstract

This paper discusses a novel approach to tissue engineering involving seeding mammalian cells onto biodegradable polymer scaffolds, growing the cells on these scaffolds in vitro, and then implanting the cell-polymer constructs in vivo. Approaches for in vitro cultivation of cells are first discussed. The types of polymer scaffolds that are utilized and the kinds of bioreactor conditions for growing cells are then delineated. The application of this approach in vitro and in vivo for producing cartilage, tendon, liver, urothelial tissue, intestine, and bone are then examined.