Tissue Engineering and Artificial Organs - Essay Example

Tissue Engineering and Artificial Organs: ID Tissue Engineering and Artificial Organs Question One Tissue engineering refers to the process of developing substitutes of biological content that help in the restoration, improvement and maintenance of the tissues or the whole organ as a whole these have played a role in developing more tissue efficiency and effectiveness in handling tissue challenges. Through this process, the body keeps reenergized and able to carry on with the processes that it is supposed to in a more effective manner. Tissue growth and replacement of broken tissues are because of this process. According to studies, tissue engineering attaches to four main aspects that relate to cells, growth factors that relate to the development of cells, scaffolds and the whole environment and its mechanical relations. As tissues in the body perform their functions to sustain the biological functions, they relate more with three factors that include cells, engineering aspects and the different material methods applicable in the process of ensuring body functions run smoothly to keep the body alive. The process involves the identification of the suitable biochemical means and the physio-chemical factors that handle the replacement process and cell improvement functions. According to the different studies existent on this topic, applications that handle the repair of tissues and the replacement of damaged portions of it feature. These studies relate to bones, blood vessels, skin, muscle, bones and other tissues in the body. Studies conducted through the development of artificial aspects have played a role in developing a regenerative medicine. The cells involved in the process range from the cells that support the particular organ and other cells that support the whole process of reengineering. Growth of the tissue attaches to the cell functions and the scaffolds that provide a pathway for the whole process of tissue reengineering. These relate to the mechanical aspects that build tissues and build means of addressing the problem of developing and addressing tissue challenges. Techniques Applicable In Building Porous Scaffolds Porous scaffolds provide the functions of a pathway that aids the tissue engineering process. The development of an efficient scaffold is a complex process that involves different mechanisms that range from Fused Deposition Modeling that appreciates rapid prototyping. The process is vital since it provides a structure that offers biomechanical conditions necessary for cell growth attached to proliferation for proper development of body parts. Besides this method, the application of conventional techniques also provides the body with the necessary porous scaffolds that function the same way as the earlier ones. Conventional means include fiber bonding, melt molding to develop a structure reasonable enough to proceed with the functions of cell or tissue engineering. Solvent casting is also another technique applicable in dealing with the process. The Fused Deposition Modeling is a rapid prototyping process that fabricates the physical models using computer control aspects using a CAD 3D process. The process involves layer-by-layer development of molten thermoplastics as s way of developing porous scaffolds for the process of tissue engineering (Massod, Singh & Morsi, 2005). Question Two The matrix of articular cartilage aids in the provision of the following functions of the cartilage. These include the transmission of applied loads across the different mobile surfaces, provision of the linings of the different bones and their ends to prevent damage, provision of pressure absorption during motion and the protection of the bones during the body functions. Cartilage is a bone piece that is softer and more flexible compared to the bones. The cartilage is the protective tissue that the bone relies on for their functionality. The composition of all cartilage in the body is made of specialized cells chondrocytes whose function is to produce large sums of the matrix of extracellular nature. These are composed of collagen fibers, elastin fibers and the different ground substances wealthy in proteogyycan contents that play a major role in the cartilage involved in body functions. The different cartilages in the body including elastic cartilage, fibro cartilage and the hyaline cartilage articular cartilage. All these different aspects of cartilage are made up of different percentage s of the main components discussed above. The chondrocytes contained in the lacunae provide the major cell component of the cartilage. These substances chondrocytes are purified through the process of diffusion through which the expel waste products and embrace oxygen and other body requirements. The cells work this way due to the lack of blood vessels that would provide the function as in the other body organs. These chondrocytes in the cartilage vary in relation to size and their arrangement and they provide different enzymes to deal with the breakdown of the different components that are aging and require replacement as one of the tissue engineering functions. Relating with other tissues in the body, the cartilage works in a slower manner with its growth and repairs done more slowly. The development of a cartilage is essential in protecting the bones and the other organs of the body. The cartilage besides this function also absorbs all the pressures developed on the bones through the support of the fluids contained in the bones. These play a role in providing the body with all the support it needs to continue with proper functioning. The provisions of the cartilage aim at making body function simpler and aiding in the reduction of friction in the body and between the bones. Question Four Artificial organs refer to man-made organs in form of devices implanted into the human body to replace the natural; organs when they fail or breakdown permanently or partially. Through this development, restoration of functionality is attained. Among the many types, bioartificial organs have been developed to care for biological functions as a way of keeping the body functioning well. As any artificial organs developed through science, the organs do not replace the actual natural organs that serve the body with the functions. They only aid people that have a shortage in these functions due to malfunctioning or loss of the organs in different case scenarios. A good example is the development of artificial limbs applicable in providing the amputees with limbs to help then live a normal life. Artificial cochlea also is an artificial organ that provides the body with the necessary function that the natural organs fails to provide hence playing a major role in filling natural gaps for the body functions. Among the many applications of 3D printing in medicine, these application shave helped embrace technology in the field making it more developed and improved. Among the many of the characteristics existent on the electronic artificial cochlea include the functionality, compatibility aspects. Functionality The functionality of the artificial organ is based on the actual functionality of the natural cochlea. The inability of the acoustic stimuli to provide hearing support through its transfer into neural signals that have are easily interpreted and handled by the different neural aspects that supports the process. The inadequacy of the body to handle this function aids in the hearing process and if not existing, deafness sets. As a way to deal with the challenge, the development of artificial cochlea to handle this function has developed to aid in the process of hearing. The artificial organs have played the role that the natural organ has failed to play in many people due to failures of their natural cochlea. The development of the cochlea requires consideration of these functions and the proper alignment of the organ to deal with the problem hence proving of vital essence to the human development. This characteristic is what makes the artificial organ function as required or not. Compatibility Compatibility aspects also come into play as one of the characteristics of the development of the artificial cochlea. The development of an artificial cochlea relies on the ability of it to fit in the structure of the human head. Developing a structure in a way that it is easily compatible to the human body makes its functionality easy and more attractive to use. Developing a product that is not compatible with the human structure would provide a burden to the people using the product hence developing a negative attitude towards the product. The product needs to have the weight that does not provide difficulty for the human being to have other functions or body organs fail to perform their functions. The organs also need not have effects to other body organs and their functionality. They need to easily blend into the other body organs and support the general functionality of the whole body if they are to provide appositive results. Efficiency The efficiency of the product also matters a lot. The product requires to be efficient in performing the functions of the body. The artificial organ requires functioning well and providing proper hearing functions to the body through the designed processes if it is to produce effective and efficient results. For any development on artificial organs, the need to ensure that the organs provide the necessary function efficiently is taken care of through many tests that have the organ tried on humans to identify any operation difficulties that may feature. Question Five There are many factors that need considering when developing artificial organs to aid in the normal process of the body in the medicinal field. 3D technology has helped provide people with body parts impairment with the ability to obtain the service of an artificial organ to aid in keep their biological functions possible. Among the many characteristics, compatibility, efficiency and functionality feature as among the many characteristics considered in the development and application of 3D technology. An example of the 3D technology and its application is in the development of an artificial cochlea as discussed above. The application has lasted for a long while with it application by Watson Crick in developing DNA structures. Compatibility The compatibility of the artificial organ is very vital in developing artificial organs. The organ developed requires being compatible to the part that it is aimed for in relation to the functions and the size. Development of an artificial organ that is bigger than the cavity within which it is to fit makes difficult to apply it. One that does not serve the functions it is intended to cover does not aid in the purpose it is made to serve. Considering an example of the artificial cochlea attached to the ear or the head of a n individual aims at providing the functions that a natural cochlea would provide. Developing a cochlea that will serve less of the functions required makes it less compatible to the functions necessary. Efficiency The efficiency of the artificial organs relies more on the development process. The development of an artificial organ that is able to serve the functions as designed to provide the body is aimed at improving efficiency. Most of the many body organs normally replaced by these artificial organs are not fully functionless. Replacing them with artificial ones would require efficiency to be considered. If a person has a hearing problem and is addressed through an artificial product, the product needs to have all the necessary abilities hence aiding its functionality. Functionality The functionality of the product also needs considering. The product may relate with the natural organ that is deficient but building an artificial organ that does not provide the necessary functions will mean no help done or no effect to the changes expected and hence poor functionality of the product. In conclusion, it is fair to state that the artificial organs provide support to people in areas they are deficient in organs but can never replace the efficiency of the natural organs that perform these functions. The natural organs are more efficient and more developed in a sense that makes them more appropriate for their functions. Artificial organs are developed to support the body or other body functions more. References Massood, S.H, Singh, J.P & Morsi, Y. (2005). The Design and Manufacturing of Porous Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Using rapid Prototyping. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 27: 415-420 Read More