Emerging technologies in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine analysis

Pathbreaking developments in tissue engineering and regenerative therapies are facilitating the design and growth of new organs in labs using biopolymer scaffolds and matrices. Analysis of potential markets for tissue engineering reveals that basic problems such as vascularity must be solved before such implants can gain acceptance as standard treatment methods.

"When a matrix or scaffold containing cells is implanted into a patient to treat large bone defects or complex organ damage, it is difficult to ensure that the implanted tissue construct has sufficient vascular access," says Technical Insights Analyst Katherine Austin." A construct can be kept alive in a bioreactor by constantly supplying it with nutrients and oxygen, but once it is implanted in the patient, it has to be well supplied by capillaries. You have to have sufficient perfusion reaching all of the cells or they'll die."

Significant research is being carried out seeking means to overcome this barrier.

Desktop organ printing based on several 3D computer aided design (CAD) processes that can 'print' tissues layer by layer is another method being tested. The components of blood vessels are laid down within the various layers and the tissue constructs grow their own capillaries when the appropriate growth factors and cells are added.

Apart from this physiological issue, another major factor that hinders acceptance of breakthrough technologies of tissue engineering as standards of practice is the reluctance of the medical community to accept them.

Physicians and surgeons are often traditionalists, and unless they approve of and use them, the products are unlikely to succeed. In fact, lack of confidence among surgeons and inadequate marketing strategies have led several products from prominent companies to fail.

Such failures make investors cautious. Investor confidence in the technology is also low since it is still so new. Careful analysis of the targeted customer and skillful marketing such as educating physicians about the advantages of the product are essential for overcoming distrust and promoting market acceptance.

"Although there are currently only a few revenue-generating products in the market, there are several in final stages of clinical trials that can contribute to market growth and revolutionize the existing standards of healthcare," concludes Austin.

Emerging Technologies in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, is part of the Healthcare/Biotech Vertical Subscription Service, and showcases exciting and influential developments in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine while providing wide-ranging information on repair of damaged organs, organ transplants, and stem cell engineering. Some of the sectors covered in the report include bone and cartilage regeneration, spinal therapies, heart disease, and wound and burn healing. Executive summary and interviews are available to the press.