Bioartificial organs.
Bioartificial organs combine the physical aspects of implantable prostheses with the biological advantages of organ transplantation. Enclosing live cells in a permselective, synthetic envelope avoids rejection by an immunoincompatible host while the geometric limitation of the closed polymer capsule prevents overgrowth of the transplanted material. As a tenet bioartificial organs widen the range of therapeutics based on the biological activity of cell transplants and open an alternative path to gene therapy.
Galletti
P M
PM
Artificial Organ Laboratory, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912.
D000818:Animals; D001187:Artificial Organs; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001701:Bionics; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008567:Membranes, Artificial
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008567:Membranes, Artificial