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Technology Insight: applications of tissue engineering and biological substitutes in urology

Nature Clinical Practice Urology volume 2, pages 143–149 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Patients suffering from diseased or injured organs may be treated with transplanted organs. Engineered tissue has a variety of potential applications throughout urology, from reconstruction of the urethra or bladder following trauma or surgery, to growing reproductive organs for individuals with congenital malformations. In this review, Anthony Atala discusses the different techniques and materials employed in tissue regeneration and tissue engineering, and their urologic applications.

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Figure 1: Tissue engineering of the urethra using a collagen matrix.
Figure 2: Combining therapeutic cloning and tissue engineering to produce kidney tissue.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Director of the Wake Forest and the Chair of the Department of Urology at Wake Forest University, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC

    Anthony Atala

Authors
  1. Anthony Atala
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anthony Atala.

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The author declares no competing financial interests.

Glossary

HYPOSPADIAS

Congenital defect in males where the urethral opening is on the underside of the penis or the perineum, rather than on the glans

EPISPADIAS

Congenital defect more common in males, where the upper wall of the urethra is absent

CAVERNOSOGRAPHY

An imaging technique whereby the corpus cavernosum is visualized by radiography

CAVERNOSOMETRY

A way of measuring vascular pressure within the corpus cavernosum, it can be used with dynamic infusion to give a visual representation

ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSPOT (ELISPOT) ASSAY

This is a technique for analyzing immunological functions in blood and lymphocytes

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Atala, A. Technology Insight: applications of tissue engineering and biological substitutes in urology. Nat Rev Urol 2, 143–149 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpuro0121

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