Technologies in Support of Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine is a method aimed at improving the patient's regenerative abilities, primarily of stem cells, or a method consisting of tissue regeneration in vitro with stem cells and transplantation of the regenerated tissue. This article briefly reviews engineering technologies which lend support to regenerative medicine, with illustrative examples including the following. (1) Biodegradable-absorbable materials: A mandibula-shaped mesh tray is pre- pared with poly-L-lactide fibers, followed by transplantation of a marrow-cancellous bone fragment autograft placed in the tray to accomplish lower jaw bone regenera- tion. (2) Culture technique: Incubation of chondrocytes in culture under adequate mechanical stimuli enables regeneration of cartilaginous tissue with mechanical properties closer to those of natural articular cartilages. (3) Immunoisolation: For treatment of diabetes mellitus using insulin-producing cells differentiated/ induced from embryonic stem cells, a method whereby the cells are encapsulated with a high polymer membrane to avoid graft rejection and then transplanted. (4) Cell transplantation devices: Investigations for development of minimally invasive grafting devices are in progress for use in cell transplantation therapy for diabetes mellitus and for myocardial infarction.