What is tissue engineering?

Scientists are combining stem-cell technologies with tissue engineering to grow new body parts to order. The first lab-grown organ used for transplant was a bladder, created from the patient’s own cells on a biodegradable scaffold. This technology has been used to treat children with a disease called spina bifida, who are born without fully developed bladders. Because these new organs could be grown from your own cells, your immune system wouldn’t reject the new, personalised tissue.

Stem cells are seeded onto this biodegradable scaffold to create a new bladder.