Tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary field that combines techniques and principles from biology, engineering, and the life sciences to develop biological substitutes that can restore, maintain, or improve tissue function. In this chapter, we will discuss tissue engineering of the female reproductive system (“reproductive tissue engineering”) in the context of vaginal tissue engineering. This chapter serves to outline what we currently know in the field of vaginal tissue engineering, to delineate key engineering design criteria for vaginal tissue engineering, and to highlight future opportunities for the field. In recent years, women’s health research has seen explosive growth; however, many questions remain in this space that should receive attention, including how we can prevent and target gynecological injuries. Quality of life is negatively impacted by gynecologic conditions and obstetric injuries, including congenital malformations, childbirth injuries, bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, sexually transmitted infections, and the genitourinary syndrome of menopause. The creation of tissue-engineered models of the female reproductive system allows generation of basic science data, which can then be used to inform the creation of neo-organs, specifically neovaginas, for eventual transplantation into patients.

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Vaginal Tissue Engineering: Biomaterial Strategies and Opportunities

  • Samantha G. Zambuto

摘要

Tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary field that combines techniques and principles from biology, engineering, and the life sciences to develop biological substitutes that can restore, maintain, or improve tissue function. In this chapter, we will discuss tissue engineering of the female reproductive system (“reproductive tissue engineering”) in the context of vaginal tissue engineering. This chapter serves to outline what we currently know in the field of vaginal tissue engineering, to delineate key engineering design criteria for vaginal tissue engineering, and to highlight future opportunities for the field. In recent years, women’s health research has seen explosive growth; however, many questions remain in this space that should receive attention, including how we can prevent and target gynecological injuries. Quality of life is negatively impacted by gynecologic conditions and obstetric injuries, including congenital malformations, childbirth injuries, bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, sexually transmitted infections, and the genitourinary syndrome of menopause. The creation of tissue-engineered models of the female reproductive system allows generation of basic science data, which can then be used to inform the creation of neo-organs, specifically neovaginas, for eventual transplantation into patients.