Introduction
Tissue engineering helps us to produce live tissues which can substitute similar function in living organism.
Bones and cartilages are some of the examples. If a person gets his bone or cartilage injured we can use tissue engineering
techniques to grow the part in a lab and later implant it to the patient. Currently we are using metal and ceramics as
a replacement for bones and other parts. But with tissue engineering we don't have to anymore relay on the inorganic parts
which has to be replaced/ monitored regularly. The tissue engineering solution is like: you fit it and you forget it.
As these are real cells they quickly sync with the original cells and be a part of them.
This technology was able to produce skin, bones and catilages for humans so far. The basic steps involved here are as follows.
- Scan and get a 3d model of the bone which was removed due to injury
- Create a scaffold with that 3d model. The scafold will me made up of some porus material so that the cells can grow and later take the shape of the scaffold itself.
- Introduce stem cells and place the scaffold in the bio reactor. The bioreactor is often has some movements to stimulate the real environment of the cell growth. It also contains nutrients and growth factors
- After full growth the scaffold is taken out and implanted to the patient.As the cells are collected from his own body, there are not any chances of rejection by the body.
- The scaffold often get degraded and removed.
Lab Task
Chicken leg cartilage tissue engineering
Due to lack of facility, we are unable to do this assignment.