Editing Tissue engineering (section)

== Overview ==
[[File:Alcian stain micromass.jpg|thumb|Micro-mass cultures of C3H-10T1/2 cells at varied oxygen tensions stained with [[Alcian blue]]]]

A commonly applied definition of tissue engineering, as stated by [[Robert Langer|Langer]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://langerlab.mit.edu/|title=Langer Lab – MIT Department of Chemical Engineering|website=langerlab.mit.edu|accessdate=13 March 2023}}</ref> and Vacanti,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.massgeneral.org/research/researchlab.aspx?id=1129|title=The Laboratory for Tissue Engineering and Organ Fabrication|publisher=Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA|access-date=31 October 2009|archive-date=1 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201194450/http://www.massgeneral.org/research/researchlab.aspx?id=1129|url-status=dead}}</ref> is "an [[interdisciplinary]] field that applies the principles of engineering and life sciences toward the development of biological substitutes that restore, maintain, or improve [Biological tissue] function or a whole organ".<ref name="auto">{{cite journal | vauthors = Langer R, Vacanti JP | title = Tissue engineering | journal = Science | volume = 260 | issue = 5110 | pages = 920–26 | date = May 1993 | pmid = 8493529 | doi = 10.1126/science.8493529 | bibcode = 1993Sci...260..920L }}</ref> In addition, Langer and Vacanti also state that there are three main types of tissue engineering: cells, tissue-inducing substances, and a cells + matrix approach (often referred to as a scaffold). Tissue engineering has also been defined as "understanding the principles of tissue growth, and applying this to produce functional replacement tissue for clinical use".<ref name=definition>{{cite journal | vauthors = MacArthur BD, Oreffo RO | title = Bridging the gap | journal = Nature | volume = 433 | issue = 7021 | pages = 19 | date = January 2005 | pmid = 15635390 | doi = 10.1038/433019a | s2cid = 2683429 | bibcode = 2005Natur.433...19M | doi-access = free }}</ref> A further description goes on to say that an "underlying supposition of tissue engineering is that the employment of natural biology of the system will allow for greater success in developing therapeutic strategies aimed at the replacement, repair, maintenance, or enhancement of tissue function".<ref name=definition/>

Developments in the multidisciplinary field of tissue engineering have yielded a novel set of tissue replacement parts and implementation strategies. Scientific advances in [[biomaterials]], stem cells, [[growth factor|growth]] and differentiation factors, and [[biomimetic]] environments have created unique opportunities to fabricate or improve existing tissues in the laboratory from combinations of engineered extracellular matrices ("scaffolds"), cells, and biologically active molecules. Among the major challenges now facing tissue engineering is the need for more complex functionality, biomechanical stability, and vascularization in laboratory-grown tissues destined for transplantation.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Thomas D, Singh D | title = Novel techniques of engineering 3D vasculature tissue for surgical procedures | journal = American Journal of Surgery | volume = 218 | issue = 1 | pages = 235–236 | date = July 2019 | pmid = 29929908 | doi = 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2018.06.004 | s2cid = 49350846 }}</ref>