Tissue Engineering Study Guide

Question 1

Name an advantage and disadvantage for tissue engineering of organs / tissues?

Answer 1

advantages:

• no donor/self-donor tissue limitations
• function restored for patient lifetime (in principle)

disadvantages:

• biological complexities of complete organ regeneration unsolved
• possible immune response, depending on cell source

Question 2

Name a place where adult stem cells can be found.

Answer 2

adult brain, blood cornea, retina, heart, fat,skin

Question 3

State and describe two components of any basic tissue engineering design

Answer 3

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Question 4

Describe the steps involved in any tissue engineering project

Answer 4

• Appropriate cell source must be identified, isolated and produced in sufficient numbers
• Appropriate biocompatible material that can be used as a cell substrate or cell encapsulation material isolated or synthesized, manufactured into desired shape and dimensions
• Cells seeded onto or into material, maintaining function, morphology • Engineered structure placed into appropriate in vivo site

Question 5

Distinguish between embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells

Answer 5

Embryonic stem cells, found in embryos have not committed to a certain type of tissue – Responsible for embryonic and fetal growth

Adult stem cells are tissue specific – Responsible for growth, tissue maintainance and regeneration

Question 6

Give two disadvantages of organ transplants

Answer 6

• not enough organs for those in need….

- many people die waiting on a list to recieve and organ

Question 7

State two functions of scaffolds for tissue engineering?

Answer 7

Delivery of cells to desired sites, define space for formation, guide development with appropriate function

Question 8

Define bioreactor

Answer 8

a system in which conditions are closely controlled to permit or induce certain behavior in lving cells or tissues

Question 9

Define tissue engineering.

Answer 9

Tissue Engineering is the in vitro development (growth) of tissues or organs to replace or support the function of defective or injured body parts, or the directed management of the repair of tissues within the body (in vivo).

Question 10

Describe spinner flask bioreactor

Answer 10

scaffolds are suspended in medium and the medium is stirred using a magnetic stirrer to improve nutrient deliver to the scaffold.