past events

T. Talheden

Research Centre for Endocrinology and Metabolism
Sahlgrenska University Hospital
Göteborg, Sweden

delivered a set of seminars.

Program:

1. Tissue engineering for cartilage repair
   Tissue engineering is an emerging multidisciplinary which brings cell biologist, engineers, physicians, molecular biologist together for finding ways to improve the health and quality of life for millions of people worldwide by restoring, maintaining, or enhancing tissue and organ function. This lecture discussed tissue engineering principles and concepts for articular cartilage repair from the view of cartilage development and biology. Special focus has been placed on functional repair and regeneration through the use of cells and scaffolds.
   
   
2. Embryonic stem cells
   Embryonic stem cells have lately gained a lot of interest for their potential of becoming any cell in the body and thereby being a great source for cellular treatments of diabetes, Parkinson's disease, osteoarthritis. This lecture described embryonic stem cells and their potential use for therapeutic and research tools for articular cartilage repair and regeneration.
   
   
3. Adult stem cells
   We are alive because we continuously renew all tissues and organs. Some tissues like the skin, gut, and blood, regenerate quickly while bone and cartilage regenerate more slowly. The regeneration is made through stem cells which divide and go through steps of differentiation resulting in a phenotype which produces highly specialized molecules and/or functions and then, after a time, expires. This lecture discussed the potential of using adult autologous and allogenic stem cells for articular cartilage repair and regeneration.
   
   
4. Strategies for successful tissue engineering
   Although the great promises of using tissue engineered products for restoring function of different organs and tissues there are several hurdles before the therapies can be clinical reality. For example, to restore the function of an articular surface the implanted material has to integrate with the surrounding cartilage and withstand the mechanical loading. The procedure need further to meet regulatory and ethical demands and be cost effective. This lecture discussed factors affecting the success rate of a tissue engineered product.