Medical Technologies

Question 1

What is tissue engineering?

Answer 1

Growing tissues in lab
Heal many damaged tissues
Future may be able to replace kidneys, heart

Question 2

What three things are required for tissue engineering?

Answer 2

1. Cells of appropriate tissue type (patient’s own, human donor)
2. A matrix to support the cells (cells separated by extracellular matrix, implanted into artificial matrix/provide conditions suitable for the cells to build their own matrix)
3. Substances that act as cell communicators (stimulate cells to divide and grow)

Question 3

What are scaffolds for?

Answer 3

Template for tissue growth

Question 4

Why do scaffolds need to have high pore sizes?

Answer 4

To enable cells to grow while at the same time allowing the diffusion of nutrients throughout the whole structure

Question 5

Why do scaffolds usually need to be biodegradable?

Answer 5

So they can be absorbed by the surrounding tissues without having to be removed surgically
The rate the scaffold degrades needs to match the rate of tissue formation (new cells manufacturing their own natural matrix structure around themselves, scaffold provides support that breaks down to leave new tissue)

Question 6

What materials are often used as scaffolds?

Answer 6

Collagen, fibrin

Polylactic acid