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Review
. 2018 Jan;83(1-2):249-257.
doi: 10.1038/pr.2017.234. Epub 2017 Nov 1.

Tissue engineering for the treatment of short bowel syndrome in children

Laura Y Martin  1   2 , Mitchell R Ladd  1   2 , Adam Werts  1   2   3 , Chhinder P Sodhi  1   2 , John C March  4 , David J Hackam  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Tissue engineering for the treatment of short bowel syndrome in children

Laura Y Martin et al. Pediatr Res. 2018 Jan.

Abstract

Short bowel syndrome is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Despite decades of experience in the management of short bowel syndrome, current therapy is primarily supportive. Definitive treatment often requires intestinal transplantation, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In order to develop novel approaches to the treatment of short bowel syndrome, we and others have focused on the development of an artificial intestine, by placing intestinal stem cells on a bioscaffold that has an absorptive surface resembling native intestine, and taking advantage of neovascularization to develop a blood supply. This review will explore recent advances in biomaterials, vascularization, and progress toward development of a functional epithelium and mesenchymal niche, highlighting both success and ongoing challenges in the field.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure statement: there are no conflicts of interest with respect to the current work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Confocal micrograph revealing the growth of a mini-gut (enteroid) in culture as a precursor to the development of an artificial intestine. Green - ki67, cyan – e-cadherin, red – phalloidin, blue – DAPI.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scanning electron micrograph showing a synthetic (Poly(glycerol) sebacate (PGS) scaffold with an architecture that mimics the native intestinal crypt-villus architecture in cross section.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Scanning electron micrograph showing attached cells on a synthetic villus prior to implantation into the host omentum.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Scanning electron micrograph showing the intestinal stem cells covering a synthetic villous at the villus base. a. PGS scaffold supports growth of intestinal epithelium
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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