Artificial cardiovascular tissues

The conclusion drawn from the above-discussed features of native endothelium is that—where feasible—construction of host endothelium on the surface of synthetic implants—i.e. engineered endothelialization—may present a promising pathway for fundamentally resolving the biocompatibility and bio-functionality of artificial cardiovascular transplantation. This proposed biocompatibility is, however, not simply thromboresistance (or blood compatibility) plus blood-cell compatibility, but a real bioactive, self-renewable and specifically functional alliance of tissues and synthetics. 

The progress in understanding TGF-fl signaling roles and mechanisms resulted in applications in medicine and biotechnology, including artificial intervention into stem cell growth and differentiation, or development of new generations of pharmaceutical compositions for tissue restoration and treatment of such diseases as cancer, cardiovascular or renal dysfunctions, and immune disorders. 

MAJOR APPLICATIONS Biomaterial applications such as dermal implant, carrier of drugs, cell culture matrix, wound dressing, material for hybrid organ, drug delivery system, soft contact lens, tissue implants, cardiovascular graft, artificial heart, etc. Synthetic sausage casings in food industry. ... 

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a particular cell type of extreme importance in the regeneration of endothelial and cardiac tissue. Current evidence suggests that EPCs may be recruited by the use of specific molecules such as small peptides or antibodies (Camd-Unal et al, 2010,2012 Hatch et al., 2011). This strategy could help to treat cardiovascular injuries using circulating EPCs to accelerate the re-endotheUaUzation process of artificial grafts and other related cardiovascular TE applications. 

The Past Two Decades - Biopolymers and Tissue-Engineered Cardiovascular Prostheses The latest wave in the field of cardiovascular prosthetic devices is the construction of artificial tissue grafts, whereby cardiocytes and other cells are grown on engineered... 

In moving organs, such as a heart, the durability of the polymer also becomes critical. An artificial heart will undergo about 368 million flexes in a decade but few, if any, polymeric materials can survive this severe a test. (This same problem also exists for heart valve material in addition to the blood compatibility problems.) While much progress has been made on artificial hearts, the fact remains that these devices have not functioned continuously for ten years and they always require an external energy source for the pumping action (usually compressed air). Obviously any cardiovascular device must also exhibit compatibility with the other body fluids and tissues. Several other articles in this book will deal with this area extensively. 

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