Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 11, 2025
Corneal Tissue Engineering: An In Vitro Model of the Stromal-nerve Interactions of the Human Cornea
Published on: January 24, 2018
Coronavirus disease 2019: A tissue engineering and regenerative medicine perspective
Abbas Shafiee1,2,3, Lida Moradi4,5, Mayasari Lim6
1Herston Biofabrication Institute, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Abstract:
Current therapies for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are generally used to manage rather than cure this highly infective disease. Therefore, there is a significant unmet medical need for a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19. Inflammation is the driving force behind coronavirus infections, and the majority of deaths caused by COVID-19 are the result of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). It is crucial to control the inflammation as early as possible. To date, numerous studies have been conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) products, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and their derivatives (eg, exosomes) for coronavirus infections, which could be applied for the COVID-19. In this review, first, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the present and future of TERM research and products are briefly presented. Then, the recent clinical trials and the therapeutic benefits of MSCs in coronavirus-induced ARDS are critically reviewed. Last, recent advances in the field of tissue engineering relevant to coronavirus infections, including three-dimensional platforms to study the disease progression and test the effects of antiviral agents, are described. Moreover, the application of biomaterials for vaccine technology and drug delivery are highlighted. Despite promising results in the preclinical and clinical applications of MSC therapy for coronavirus infections, controversy still exists, and thus further investigation is required to understand the efficacy of these therapies.
Insights
Current treatments for COVID-19 manage symptoms, not cure the disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show promise in treating inflammation and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by coronavirus infections.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Immunology
- Virology
Background:
- COVID-19 presents a significant unmet medical need for effective treatments.
- Inflammation, particularly acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), drives severe COVID-19 outcomes.
- Existing therapies primarily manage symptoms rather than cure the infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM).
- To critically evaluate clinical trials and therapeutic benefits of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for coronavirus-induced ARDS.
- To describe advances in tissue engineering for studying COVID-19 and developing treatments.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on TERM products for coronavirus infections.
- Analysis of clinical trials involving mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for ARDS.
- Description of three-dimensional (3D) platforms for disease modeling and drug testing.
- Highlighting the use of biomaterials in vaccine technology and drug delivery.
Main Results:
- Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their derivatives show potential in managing inflammation and ARDS associated with coronavirus infections.
- Tissue engineering approaches, including 3D platforms, offer new ways to study COVID-19 and test antiviral agents.
- Biomaterials are being explored for enhanced vaccine technology and targeted drug delivery.
Conclusions:
- MSC therapy demonstrates promising preclinical and clinical results for coronavirus infections, but further investigation is needed.
- TERM offers innovative strategies for developing novel COVID-19 treatments and research tools.
- Continued research is essential to fully understand the efficacy and mechanisms of MSCs in treating COVID-19 related complications.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell...
01:24Tissue Transplantation
The Biology of Tissue Transplantation
The biology of tissue transplantation hinges on the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules. These molecules...