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Updated: Jan 10, 2026
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Tissue Engineering: Construction of a Multicellular 3D Scaffold for the Delivery of Layered Cell Sheets
Published on: October 3, 2014
15.1K
Photosymbiotic tissue engineering and regeneration.
Sushila Maharjan1, Diana Priscills Bonilla-Ruelas1, Gorka Orive2,3
1Division of Engineering of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States of America.
Progress in Biomedical Engineering (Bristol, England)
|November 25, 2025
Summary
Photosynthetic microorganisms in engineered tissues generate oxygen, overcoming hypoxia challenges. This photosymbiotic oxygenation approach enhances tissue engineering and regenerative medicine viability.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Tissue engineering aims to restore tissue function with artificial organs.
- Long-term engineered tissue culture faces challenges due to inadequate oxygenation (hypoxia).
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of photoautotrophic microorganism-enabled oxygenation strategies.
- To address hypoxia-related challenges in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Main Methods:
- Biofabrication of photosymbiotic scaffolds using biomaterials, photosynthetic microorganisms, and human cells.
- Utilizing light illumination to stimulate constant oxygen generation.
Main Results:
- Photosymbiotic scaffolds demonstrated continuous oxygen generation in response to light.
- Engineered tissues avoided hypoxic conditions, improving long-term culture feasibility.
Conclusions:
- Photosymbiotic oxygenation is a promising strategy for overcoming oxygenation challenges in tissue engineering.
- This approach offers a novel solution for enhancing the viability of engineered tissues and organs.
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