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Efficient biomaterials for tissue engineering of female reproductive organs

  • Feature Article
  • Tissue Engineering
  • Published:
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

Current investigations on the bioengineering of female reproductive tissues have created new hopes for the women suffering from reproductive organ failure including congenital anomaly of the female reproductive tract or serious injuries. There are many surgically restore forms that constitute congenital anomaly, however, to date, there is no treatment except surgical treatment of transplantation for patients who are suffering from anomaly or dysfunction organs like vagina and uterus. Restoring and maintaining the normal function of ovary and uterus require the establishment of biological substitutes that can cover the roles of structural support for cells and passage of secreting molecules. As in the case of constructing other functional organs, reproductive organ manufacturing also needs biological matrices which can provide an appropriate condition for attachment, growth, proliferation and signaling of various kinds of grafted cells. Among the organs, uterus needs special features such as plasticity due to their amazing changes in volume when they are in the state of pregnancy. Although numerous natural and synthetic biomaterials are still at the experimental stage, some biomaterials have already been evaluated their efficacy for the reconstruction of female reproductive tissues. In this review, all the biomaterials cited in recent literature that have ever been used and that have a potential for the tissue engineering of female reproductive organs were reviewed, especially focused on bioengineered ovary and uterus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Korea

    Amin Tamadon, Kyu-Hyung Park & Seung-Yup Ku

  2. Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Yoon Young Kim

  3. Department of Experimental Animal Research, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Byeong-Cheol Kang

  4. Graduate School of Translational Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Byeong-Cheol Kang

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  1. Amin Tamadon
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  2. Kyu-Hyung Park
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  3. Yoon Young Kim
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  4. Byeong-Cheol Kang
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  5. Seung-Yup Ku
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Correspondence to Seung-Yup Ku.

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Tamadon, A., Park, KH., Kim, Y.Y. et al. Efficient biomaterials for tissue engineering of female reproductive organs. Tissue Eng Regen Med 13, 447–454 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-016-9107-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-016-9107-0

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