Regenerative medicine refers to the process of replacing, engineering or regenerating human cells, tissues or organs to restore or establish normal function.
Its purpose is to stimulate the body’s own repair mechanisms to functionally heal previously irreparable tissues or organs.
The process includes the possibility of growing tissues and organs in the laboratory and implanting them when the body cannot heal itself.
Regenerated organs derived from the patient’s own tissue or cells, circumvents the challenge of organ transplant rejection via immunological mismatch.
The field of regenerative medicine may involve the use of stem cells: injection of stem cells or progenitor cells obtained through directed differentiation by cell therapies, the induction of regeneration by biologically active molecules, immunomodulation therapy, and transplantation of in vitro grown organs and tissues.
RM could alleviate the problem of the shortage of organs available for donation.
Some of the biomedical approaches within the field of regenerative medicine use stem cells: injection of stem cells or progenitor cells obtained through directed differentiation: the induction of regeneration by biologically active molecules administered alone or as a secretion by infused cells: and transplantation of in vitro grown organs and tissues.
Regenerative medicine is an approach to therapy that employs human genes, proteins and cells to re-grow, restore or provide mechanical replacements for tissues that have been injured by trauma, damaged by disease or worn by time.
RM and offers the prospect of curing diseases that cannot be treated effectively today, including those related to aging.
Applications include includes cell and stem cell therapies, gene therapy, tissue engineering, genomic medicine, personalized medicine, biomechanical prosthetics, recombinant proteins, antibody treatments, and chemical pharmacopeia.
Baby teeth are known to contain stem cells that can be used for regeneration of the dental pulp after a root canal treatment or injury.
These cells can also be used to repair damage from periodontitis.
Extracellular matrix materials are used in reconstructive surgery, treatment of chronic wounds, and some orthopedic surgeries.
The use of fish skin with its natural constituent of omega 3, has been used for the treatment of chronic wounds and burns.
Cord cells are hematopoietic stem cells, which can differentiate into blood cells, and are not pluripotent stem cells such as embryonic stem cells, which can differentiate into any type of tissue.