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Whole-organ bioengineering: current tales of modern alchemy
Emma C Moran1, Abritee Dhal1, Dipen Vyas1
1Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC.
Abstract:
End-stage organ disease affects millions of people around the world, to whom organ transplantation is the only definitive cure available. However, persistent organ shortage and the resulting widespread transplant backlog are part of a disturbing reality and a common burden felt by thousands of patients on waiting lists in almost every country where organ transplants are performed. Several alternatives and potential solutions to this problem have been sought in past decades, but one seems particularly promising now: whole-organ bioengineering. This review describes briefly the evolution of organ transplantation and the development of decellularized organ scaffolds and their application to organ bioengineering. This modern alchemy of generating whole-organ scaffolds and recellularizing them with multiple cell types in perfusion bioreactors is paving the way for a new revolution in transplantation medicine. Furthermore, although the first generation of bioengineered organs still lacks true clinical value, it has created a number of novel tissue and organ model platforms with direct application in other areas of science (eg, developmental biology and stem cell biology, drug discovery, physiology and metabolism). In this review, we describe the current status and numerous applications of whole-organ bioengineering, focusing also on the multiple challenges that researchers have to overcome to translate these novel technologies fully into transplantation medicine.
Insights
Whole-organ bioengineering offers a promising solution to organ shortages for transplantation. While early bioengineered organs have limitations, they provide valuable models for research and drug discovery.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Biotechnology
- Transplantation Science
Background:
- End-stage organ disease impacts millions globally, with organ transplantation being the primary cure.
- A critical shortage of donor organs leads to extensive transplant waiting lists worldwide.
- Whole-organ bioengineering emerges as a significant potential solution to address organ scarcity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evolution of organ transplantation and decellularized organ scaffolds.
- To explore the applications of whole-organ bioengineering in regenerative medicine.
- To discuss the current status, challenges, and future directions of bioengineered organs.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical advancements in organ transplantation.
- Description of decellularized organ scaffold creation and recellularization techniques.
- Analysis of perfusion bioreactor applications in organ bioengineering.
Main Results:
- Whole-organ bioengineering utilizes decellularized scaffolds and cell seeding in bioreactors.
- The first generation of bioengineered organs shows potential but lacks immediate clinical utility.
- Novel tissue and organ models derived from this technology have applications in various scientific fields.
Conclusions:
- Whole-organ bioengineering represents a revolutionary approach in transplantation medicine.
- Current bioengineered organs serve as valuable platforms for developmental biology, stem cell research, drug discovery, and physiological studies.
- Significant challenges remain in translating whole-organ bioengineering technologies into widespread clinical practice for transplantation.
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