Tissue engineering in congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Abstract

Engineered diaphragmatic repair is emblematic of perinatal regenerative medicine and of the fetal tissue engineering concept. The alternative of a cellularized graft for the repair of a congenital diaphragmatic defect in the neonatal period is both biologically justifiable by the mechanisms behind diaphragmatic hernia recurrence as well as an ideal match for fetal mesenchymal stem cell-based constructs. It has been among the most developed experimental pursuits in neonatal tissue engineering, of which clinical application should be forthcoming.

Keywords: Amniotic mesenchymal stem cells; Congenital anomalies; Congenital diaphragmatic hernia; Diaphragm; Diaphragmatic engineering; Fetal stem cells; Fetal tissue engineering; Tendon.