Chapters authored
Scaffold Biomaterials in Tissue Regeneration in Surgery
This chapter will focus on the subject of tissue regeneration in a variety of different surgical fields and operations. We will explore the use of acellular dermal matrices, stem cell-based therapies, gene regulation, emerging 3D printing techniques and their potential applications in surgery. Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) are biological materials derived from human or animal tissue through complicated and expensive decellularisation processes, leading to acellular material that can be used to aid tissue healing. ADMs were first introduced for the treatment of burn injuries, but are now widely used in a variety of surgical fields, including abdominal wall and breast reconstruction. A wide range of materials can be used to produce ADMs, but usually include bovine, porcine or human tissues (e.g., dermis and pericardium). ADMs act as scaffolds onto which human tissue can incorporate, allowing for an innovative, yet a very effective way to aid tissue regeneration. Stem cell therapies also hold promise in aiding tissue regeneration in the coming years and we will also explore techniques that are currently being researched by prominent scientists all across the world. For example, adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) are a potentially revolutionary therapy in regenerative medicine. We will review the current evidence available and consider the possible clinical applications of ASCs, including their potential to treat ischaemic diseases and their role in healing chronic wounds. ASCs are adult stem cells, which display similar morphology and differentiation properties to adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The multiple linage pathways displayed by ASCs allows a variety of tissues to be repaired and maintained. Moreover, adipose tissue is abundant, easily accessible and is able to be repeatedly harvested with low morbidity. Previously, autologous fat grafting was more commonly utilised for managing volume defects in reconstructive and plastic surgery; however, recent literature has revealed promising therapeutic effects of ASCs in tissue regeneration. Finally, gene regulation, which holds promise in musculoskeletal diseases, and 3D printed scaffolds that aid neural regeneration will also be discussed in this chapter as emerging, and potentially very promising, tissue regeneration techniques.
Part of the book: Tissue Regeneration