Tissue engineering and regenerative repair in wound healing.
Wound healing is a highly evolved defense mechanism against infection and further injury. It is a complex process involving multiple cell types and biological pathways. Mammalian adult cutaneous wound healing is mediated by a fibroproliferative response leading to scar formation. In contrast, early to mid-gestational fetal cutaneous wound healing is more akin to regeneration and occurs without scar formation. This early observation has led to extensive research seeking to unlock the mechanism underlying fetal scarless regenerative repair. Building upon recent advances in biomaterials and stem cell applications, tissue engineering approaches are working towards a recapitulation of this phenomenon. In this review, we describe the elements that distinguish fetal scarless and adult scarring wound healing, and discuss current trends in tissue engineering aimed at achieving scarless tissue regeneration.
Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 257 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305-5148, USA.
Michael S
MS
Hu
Zeshaan N
ZN
Maan
Jen-Chieh
JC
Wu
Robert C
RC
Rennert
Wan Xing
WX
Hong
Tiffany S
TS
Lai
Alexander T M
AT
Cheung
Graham G
GG
Walmsley
Michael T
MT
Chung
Adrian
A
McArdle
Michael T
MT
Longaker
H Peter
HP
Lorenz
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing