INCORPORATING QUALITY IN ENGINEERED TISSUES USING BOTTOM-UP NICHE ASSEMBLIES

摘要

A major limitation in Tissue Engineering (TE) is the ability to control complexity within 3D engineered constructs. Diffusion limitations lead to the development of uncontrolled or even adverse environments leading to uncontrolled stem cell fate decision within the cultured tissue and cell death. Moreover the lack of control of the environment within these constructs makes the application of quality engineering principles such as quality by design (QbD) impossible. Length-scales chosen for the creation of in vitro tissues have not been chosen based on rational criteria and hence minimal success has been attained upon implantation. Recently bottom-up strategies have been introduced advocating the use of smaller tissue modules as building blocks for the formation of larger tissues prior to implantation.