Current Applications and Future Directions of Bioengineering Approaches for Bladder Augmentation and Reconstruction

End-stage neurogenic bladder usually results in the insufficiency of upper urinary tract, requiring bladder augmentation with intestinal tissue. To avoid complications of augmentation cystoplasty, tissue-engineering technique could offer a new approach to bladder reconstruction. This work reviews the current state of bioengineering progress and barriers in bladder augmentation or reconstruction and proposes an innovative method to address the obstacles of bladder augmentation. The ideal tissue-engineered bladder has the characteristics of high biocompatibility, compliance, and specialized urothelium to protect the upper urinary tract and prevent extravasation of urine. Despite that many reports have demonstrated that bioengineered bladder possessed a similar structure to native bladder, few large animal experiments, and clinical applications have been performed successfully. The lack of satisfactory outcomes over the past decades may have become an important factor hindering the development in this field. More studies should be warranted to promote the use of tissue-engineered bladders in clinical practice.

Regenerative Medicine and Angiogenesis; Challenges and Opportunities

Blood vessel development is one of the most prominent steps in regenerative medicine due tothe restoration of blood flow to the ischemic tissues and providing the rapid vascularizationin clinical-sized tissue-engineered grafts. However, currently tissue engineering technique isrestricted because of the inadequate in vitro/in vivo tissue vascularization. Some challenges likeas transportation in large scale, distribution of the nutrients and poor oxygen diffusion limit theprogression of vessels in smaller than clinically relevant dimensions as well in vivo integration.In this regard, the scholars attempted to promote the vascularization process relied on the stemcells (SCs), growth factors as well as exosomes and interactions of biomaterials with all of themto enable the emergence of ideal microenvironment which is needed for treatment of unhealthyorgans or tissue regeneration and formation of new blood vessels. Thus, in the present reviewwe aim to describe these approaches, advances, obstacles and opportunities as well as theirapplication in regeneration of heart as a prominent angiogenesis-dependent organ.

Regeneration of dentin–pulp-like tissue using an injectable tissue engineering technique

An injectable tissue engineering technique to regenerate dentin–pulp complex.