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Cell-building discovery could reduce need for some animal research

Researchers at Brown University have successfully grown and assembled living microtissues into complex three-dimensional structures, advancing tissue engineering. The breakthrough could eventually reduce the need for certain kinds of animal research, with implications for basic cell biology, drug discovery, and tissue research.

SourceBrown University·JournalBiotechnology and Bioengineering·DateFeb 2, 2009

MIT sculpts 3-D particles with light

Researchers at MIT have developed a method to create three-dimensional microparticles using ultraviolet light, offering unprecedented control over size, shape, and texture. The particles can be designed with specific chemical properties, such as porosity, making them suitable for use in medical diagnostics and tissue engineering.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateDec 3, 2007

Rice bioengineers pioneer techniques for knee repair

Researchers at Rice University have developed a self-assembly method to grow dime-sized disks of cartilage with properties approaching native tissue. The technique uses only donor cells, eliminating rejection risks, and has been refined to produce virtually identical cartilage in terms of mechanical and biochemical makeup.

SourceRice University·JournalTissue Engineering·DateMar 27, 2006

An engineer, a dentist, a veterinarian build bone tissue

Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a new bone tissue engineering material using amorphous calcium phosphates, which they believe could lead to faster and higher quality bone formation. The team's work, in collaboration with the American Dental Association, is currently in press for several scientific journals.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalJournal of Biomedical Materials Research·DateJan 9, 2006

New method shows it is possible to grow bone for grafts within a patient's body

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have created a new approach to tissue engineering that allows for the growth of predictable volumes of bone on demand. This method involves creating a 'bioreactor' space under the periosteum, a thin outer layer covering long bones, and filling it with a gel containing calcium to stimulate bone growth.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 25, 2005

Rice University tissue engineers set sights on meniscus

Researchers at Rice University are working on growing replacement cartilage for the meniscus, a kidney-shaped wedge of cartilage that cushions stress in the knee joint. By developing methods to simulate mechanical conditions and grow tissue in precise shapes, they aim to create more effective treatments for osteoarthritis.