Vitro tissue refers to tissue that has been engineered or manipulated outside of a living organism, specifically in a laboratory setting. The term "in vitro" means "in glass," reflecting the fact that these processes often occur in test tubes or petri dishes. This approach is a cornerstone of in vitro tissue engineering, a field focused on creating functional tissues for research, testing, and potentially, transplantation. According to the reference, in vitro tissue engineering involves the manipulation of cells in vitro, prior to implantation into the in vivo environment.
Key Aspects of Vitro Tissue
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Cell Manipulation: Cells are isolated, cultured, and often seeded onto scaffolds to guide tissue formation.
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Controlled Environment: Factors like temperature, pH, and nutrient supply are carefully controlled to optimize cell growth and tissue development.
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Biomaterials: Scaffolds made of various biomaterials provide structural support and cues for cell organization.
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Applications: Vitro tissues can be used for:
- Drug screening
- Disease modeling
- Fundamental research on tissue development
- Potential for creating replacement tissues/organs
Contrasting In Vitro and In Vivo Tissue Engineering
The reference highlights a key distinction between in vitro and in vivo tissue engineering. In contrast to in vitro methods, in vivo tissue engineering relies on the body's natural regenerative abilities, often utilizing biomaterials alone, without pre-seeded cells, to promote tissue growth within the body.
