Building gut from scratch - progress and update of intestinal tissue engineering

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a rare condition characterized by insufficient intestinal absorptive epithelium, leading to significant patient morbidity and mortality.
• Current treatments for SBS primarily involve supportive care, such as intravenous parenteral nutrition, aiming for intestinal autonomy but lacking a definitive cure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in intestinal tissue engineering (ITE) as a potential therapeutic strategy for SBS.
• To discuss the essential components for engineering intestinal grafts and summarize the progress in ITE.
• To explore challenges and key factors for the clinical translation of tissue-engineered intestine.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of recent studies in intestinal tissue engineering.
• Analysis of advances in biomaterials, cell sources, and bioreactor technologies for ITE.
• Evaluation of preclinical and clinical translation hurdles for engineered intestinal grafts.

Main Results:

• Significant progress has been made in developing components for engineered intestinal grafts.
• ITE strategies are exploring the harnessing of innate developmental and regenerative mechanisms.
• Key challenges in vascularization, innervation, and immune integration for clinical application are identified.

Conclusions:

• Intestinal tissue engineering offers a promising alternative approach for treating SBS.
• Addressing challenges in clinical translation is crucial for realizing the therapeutic potential of ITE.
• Future outlook suggests expanding therapeutic applications of ITE beyond SBS treatment.