title: Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine as applied to the gastrointestinal tract.
abstract: The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a complex system characterized by multiple cell types with a determined architectural arrangement. Tissue engineering of the GI tract aims to reinstate the architecture and function of all structural layers. The key point for successful tissue regeneration includes the use of cells/biomaterials that elucidate minimal immune response after implantation. Different biomaterial choices and cell sources have been proposed to engineer the GI tract. This review summarizes the recent advances in bioengineering the GI tract with emphasis on cell sources and scaffolding biomaterials.
authors.affiliation: Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States; Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States. Electronic address: kbitar@wakehealth.edu.
authors.forename: Khalil N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Bitar
authors.forename: Elie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zakhem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D004947:Esophagus; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D012038:Regeneration / Q000276:immunology; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D013270:Stomach; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials