State-of-the-Art Advancements in Tissue Regeneration

Whereas the demand for organ transplants is great, there are too few donors and transplant rejection remains a major concern. Kevin Shakesheff, from The University of Nottingham (United Kingdom), and colleagues have begun the search for a new class of injectable materials that will stimulate stem cells to regenerate damaged tissue in degenerative and age related disorders of the bone, muscle and heart.  The work, which is currently at the experimental stage, could lead to treatments for diseases that currently have no cure. The aim is to produce radical new treatments that will reduce the need for invasive surgery, optimize recovery and reduce the risk of undesirable scar tissue.