"Building Organs Block by Block"
Researchers at the MIT-Harvard Division of Health Sciences and Technology have made what could potentially be a major breakthrough in the field of tissue engineering. While tissues themselves are fairly easy to grow in vitro, an obstacle occurs in getting tissue to form a 3-D shape as opposed to a flat layer of cells. Skin, cartilage, and simple organs such as the bladder can be grown, but more complicated organs prove exceedingly difficult to manufacture. Researchers have developed a new method of overcoming that challenge, in the form of "biological Legos" or encapsulating cells within a polymer called polyethylene glycol. By encapsulating tissue cells in this rudimentary cube form, they can be arranged in specific shapes block by block, using templates made of a silicon-based polymer, and coated again with polyethylene glycol in order to hold the cubes together while packed into a scaffold surface.
Researchers Gomez Fernandez and Khademhosseini used the method, dubbed "micromasonry" to construct tubes that could potentially be used as capillaries, providing an immediate blood supply to any engineered organs. Such research could lead to the development of an entirely artificial liver or even structured cardiac tissue. In the event that developing a full blown organ is not feasible, biodevices could still be constructed with this material that could have innumerable benefits in the world of medicine.
This article was of interest to me because I am interested in tissue engineering in general, and intend to specify in the tissue engineering track during my collegiate career. As a child who spent a great deal of time playing with Legos, the thought constructing organs in a similar manner, or at any rate some evidence as to its feasibility, is music to my ears. The implications of such technology being available would be astronomical, and virtually any life threatening disease that targets an organ or organ system would potentially be surmountable.
Link: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2010/tissue-legos-0513.html
John Gruetzner
Researchers Gomez Fernandez and Khademhosseini used the method, dubbed "micromasonry" to construct tubes that could potentially be used as capillaries, providing an immediate blood supply to any engineered organs. Such research could lead to the development of an entirely artificial liver or even structured cardiac tissue. In the event that developing a full blown organ is not feasible, biodevices could still be constructed with this material that could have innumerable benefits in the world of medicine.
This article was of interest to me because I am interested in tissue engineering in general, and intend to specify in the tissue engineering track during my collegiate career. As a child who spent a great deal of time playing with Legos, the thought constructing organs in a similar manner, or at any rate some evidence as to its feasibility, is music to my ears. The implications of such technology being available would be astronomical, and virtually any life threatening disease that targets an organ or organ system would potentially be surmountable.
Link: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2010/tissue-legos-0513.html
John Gruetzner
posted by John Gruetzner at 8:01 PM
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