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Updated: Sep 1, 2025

Neonatal Cardiac Scaffolds: Novel Matrices for Regenerative Studies
Published on: November 5, 2016
Regenerative medicine: postnatal approaches
Paul Kwong Hang Tam1, Kenneth Kak Yuen Wong2, Anthony Atala3
1Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau Special Administrative Region, China; Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
Insights
Regenerative medicine advances in postnatal approaches use gene, cell, and niche technologies for tissue and organ repair. These innovations offer new treatments for pediatric diseases and conditions affecting all ages.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Paediatric Healthcare
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Paediatric regenerative medicine is advancing rapidly, focusing on postnatal therapeutic strategies.
- New technologies enable the structural and functional restoration of complex biological systems.
- Organoid and tissue engineering offer models for human diseases and novel treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in postnatal regenerative medicine approaches for paediatric conditions.
- To highlight the application of gene, cell, and niche-based technologies.
- To discuss the potential of these technologies in treating both rare and common diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of gene, cell, and niche-based technologies.
- Analysis of organoid and tissue engineering advancements.
- Examination of preclinical studies in gastrointestinal, respiratory, and genitourinary systems.
Main Results:
- Successful structural and functional reconstitution of complex cell, tissue, and organ hierarchies.
- Development of human disease models and novel treatments for paediatric and general populations.
- Promising preclinical results for gastrointestinal disorders (oesophageal replacement, short bowel syndrome, etc.) and respiratory diseases (lung tissue engineering).
Conclusions:
- Postnatal regenerative medicine holds significant promise for treating a wide range of paediatric diseases.
- Tissue engineering and gene/cell therapies are key to addressing complex congenital conditions.
- Continued research is essential to overcome challenges in regenerative medicine for complex organs like the heart.
Abstract:
Paper 2 of the paediatric regenerative medicine Series focuses on recent advances in postnatal approaches. New gene, cell, and niche-based technologies and their combinations allow structural and functional reconstitution and simulation of complex postnatal cell, tissue, and organ hierarchies. Organoid and tissue engineering advances provide human disease models and novel treatments for both rare paediatric diseases and common diseases affecting all ages, such as COVID-19. Preclinical studies for gastrointestinal disorders are directed towards oesophageal replacement, short bowel syndrome, enteric neuropathy, biliary atresia, and chronic end-stage liver failure. For respiratory diseases, beside the first human tracheal replacement, more complex tissue engineering represents a promising solution to generate transplantable lungs. Genitourinary tissue replacement and expansion usually involve application of biocompatible scaffolds seeded with patient-derived cells. Gene and cell therapy approaches seem appropriate for rare paediatric diseases of the musculoskeletal system such as spinal muscular dystrophy, whereas congenital diseases of complex organs, such as the heart, continue to challenge new frontiers of regenerative medicine.
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