The cultivation of body parts outside the body, a process often referred to as tissue engineering whether regenerative medicine , is a rapidly developing field. Although we are not yet able to make complex organs fully functional, significant successes have already been achieved. Below is an overview of body parts and tissues that can currently be grown outside the body:

1. Skin

  • Artificial skin is already widely used, for example for patients with severe burns. Cells from a patient's skin can be grown in the laboratory to form new skin.
  • This skin is often not fully functional (for example without sweat glands or hair follicles), but it does provide a good basis for recovery.

2. Cartilage

  • Cartilage tissue can be grown in the laboratory and is used to repair damaged joints (eg knees).
  • This is done by growing cartilage cells (chondrocytes) on a biodegradable “mold”.

3. Blood vessels

  • Researchers can grow small blood vessels that are used for bypass surgery or as grafts for vascular diseases, for example.
  • This helps to prevent rejection reactions, as the patient's own cells are used.

4. Bladder

  • Scientists have successfully grown simple organs such as bladders. These artificial bladders have already been implanted in a few patients.
  • The bladder is formed with patient cells and a supporting scaffold material.

5. Trachea (trachea) )

  • Artificial tracheas were grown in the laboratory using a patient's stem cells. These types of transplants have been used in patients with severe trachea disorders.

6. Heart valves

  • Progress has been made in the cultivation of heart valves from stem cells. These could potentially be used in heart surgery to replace damaged valves.

7. Bone tissue

  • Smaller pieces of bone tissue can be grown to repair or replace bones after injuries or surgeries.
  • This is often done with stem cells and calcium-rich scaffolds that stimulate bone growth.

8. Auricles and nose structures

  • Scientists have used cartilage to form auricles and even nasal septions. This is mainly used in reconstructive surgery.

Future opportunities

Research into the cultivation of complex organs, such as reins , liver and hearts , is in full swing. However, this is technically challenging because these organs have complex structures and functions. Stem cells play an important role here, because they can grow into different cell types.

Organoids (mini organs, such as a small version of a liver or brain) are also grown for research. Although they are not ready for transplantation yet, they are helping researchers study diseases and test drugs.

Important benefits

Growing parts of the body outside the body reduces the risk of rejection (because the patient's own cells are used) and offers a solution to the shortage of organ donors. With further developments in biotechnology and stem cell therapy, the future of regenerative medicine is becoming increasingly promising.

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