Next-Generation Therapies for Gastrointestinal Repair: Converging Traditional Medicine and Tissue Engineering

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract plays a vital role in regulating metabolic pathways, nutrient absorption, and cellular homeostasis. Abnormalities in the GI tract often arise from unhealthy lifestyles, genetic mutations, and prolonged medication use, leading to disorders such as ulcers, cirrhosis, and malignancies. Conventional treatments including chemotherapy and surgery remain limited by high costs, invasiveness, and incomplete tissue recovery. Recent advances in bioengineering have enabled the development of grafts and drug-delivery systems that repair and regenerate functional GI tissue. This review presents a comprehensive overview of GI disorders, their current therapeutic options, and emerging tissue-engineering strategies that integrate regenerative medicine and traditional therapies to address metabolic and genetic dysfunctions.