Tissue engineering

The main idea is to use the body’s native capacity to repair itself together with endogenous cells, scaffold (biomaterial) and signal (growth factors) to support and guide the process. In essence, new and functional living tissue is fabricated using living cells, which are usually associated with a matrix or scaffold which guides tissue development.

Figure 1: Tissue engineering process as regenerative medicine

Tissue engineering relies on the use of porous 3D scaffolds to provide a suitable environment for organs and tissues to regenerate.