Investigators: Eric E. Sabelman, PhD, Vincent R. Hentz, MD, William C. Lineaweaver, MD, and Kenneth Hui, MD

Problem: Tissue engineering - defined as the combination of living cells with a biomaterial matrix - holds promise for replacing tissues lost to injury, disease and birth defects.

Approach: While other approaches to tissue engineering for human implantation use donor cells that can be rejected, our approach is based on using a patient's own ("autologous") cells. Rather than rely entirely on stimulating the cells by adding growth and attachment factors, we hypothesize that cells will synthesize such factors themselves if they are placed in a biocompatible matrix with suitable micron-scale geometry. The optimum result is a family of prefabricated tissue replacements that become integrated into the body without the need for major donor site surgery (cells are obtained from small biopsies or from the margins of a wound).

The technique is applicable for a broad range of needs, from single tissues (e.g.: peripheral nerve) to complex organs (e.g.: hands).

Our research is a collaboration between the bioengineer and the surgeon, rather than bioengineer and molecular biologist, since successful implantation of a tissue-engineered graft is as dependent on microsurgical technique as on the material itself.

Related Work:

• Nerve gap repair using Schwann cell-seeded artificial grafts
• Biomaterial matrices for deep tissue ulcer repair

Collaborators:

• Dr. David Terris, Stanford Dev. of Otolaryngology
• Talat Khan, PhD, Hines VA Rehabilitation R&D Center, Chicago

Last updated January 12, 1998