結(jié)合細(xì)胞遺傳工程和化學(xué)工程以創(chuàng)造器官和組織如:皮膚、骨頭、心臟瓣膜和軟骨關(guān)節(jié)的技術(shù)。例如,骨生長(zhǎng)因子或干細(xì)胞可以在孔狀物質(zhì)中生長(zhǎng),產(chǎn)生頜或四肢。在另一個(gè)例子中,可以制造新的微小器官;從豬的身上純化出產(chǎn)生胰島素的胰島細(xì)胞裝入用特殊膜做成的膠囊然后送到糖尿病患者的腹部。這些細(xì)胞受到合成膜的保護(hù)而不會(huì)被免疫系統(tǒng)拒絕,但同時(shí)又可以在生理狀態(tài)下釋放胰島素。同樣肝細(xì)胞可以裝入膠囊產(chǎn)生小的肝。最后,取代損壞軟骨關(guān)節(jié)或可導(dǎo)入虛弱組織壁的合成物質(zhì)也正在開(kāi)發(fā)中。
Technology combining genetic engineering of cells with chemical engineering to create artificial organs and tissues such as skin, bone, heart valves, and cartilage for joints. For example, bone growth factors or stem cells can be grown within a porous material (cut to shape) to create new jaws or limbs. In a second example, new miniorgans can be created; Islet cells that produce insulin have been purified from pigs and encapsulated in a special membrane before introduction into the abdomen of diabetic patients. These cells are protected from immune rejection by the synthetic membrane, but can release insulin in a physiological manner. Similarly, liver cells can be encapsulated to generate mini-livers. Finally, synthetic materials that can replace damaged cartilage in joints or that can be introduced into weakened tissue walls are also under development.