Definition:
Tissue engineering is the use of bioengineering techniques to manipulate the biological functions of tissues (aggregates of cells). When cells are amassed into complex formations, such as a whole organ, they must create systems for transport of nutrients, regulation of growth, and other processes. Tissue engineering requires an understanding of processes such as epigenetics and intracellular signaling, in order to control or enhance how tissues operate in the body.
Currently, tissue engineering is used to make skin and cartilage grafts but a more complex future objective is to grow entire organs from pluripotent cells, for transplantation into humans, and eliminate the need to wait for a suitable donor.
Examples:
The scientists used tissue engineering to grow an aggregate of skin cells on a resin scaffold, for grafting onto the burn victim.