Cell manufacturing for cell-based tissue engineering: a focus on vascularized, skeletal muscle regeneration

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Cell manufacturing is essential for producing cells for tissue engineering applications.
• Current methods face challenges like loss of cell potency and uncontrolled cellular heterogeneity.
• Addressing cellular heterogeneity is critical for creating functional engineered tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current and emerging cell manufacturing approaches for tissue engineering.
• To focus on biomanufacturing strategies for vascularized skeletal muscle tissue.
• To highlight regulatory aspects and methods for maintaining cell identity and potency.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on cell manufacturing techniques.
• Analysis of bioreactor, chemical cue, and substrate modification methods.
• Examination of regulatory guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Main Results:

• Cell manufacturing involves isolation, purification, culture, expansion, modification, cryopreservation, and formulation.
• Key challenges include maintaining cell potency and managing cellular heterogeneity.
• Approaches for manufacturing endothelial and muscle stem cells that preserve identity and potency are discussed.

Conclusions:

• Advanced cell manufacturing is crucial for regenerative medicine.
• Biomanufacturing strategies can address cellular heterogeneity in tissue engineering.
• Developing methods to measure and manipulate cellular heterogeneity will enable the creation of functional, native-like engineered tissues.