Midterm Exam Notes _241101_152725

BME 703: Tissue Engineering - Midterm Notes Overview

  • Duration: 2.5 hours

  • Format:

    • Multiple choice questions

    • Short answer questions

    • Design problem questions

Lecture Breakdown

  • Lecture 1: Introduction to Tissue Engineering

  • Lecture 2: Cellular Therapies

  • Lecture 3: Tissue Organization

  • Lecture 4: Stem Cells

  • Lecture 5: Dynamic States and Morphogenesis

  • Lecture 6: Cell Differentiation

Key Topics from Lecture Notes

Transplant Categories

  • Autologous: Sourced from the patient and reintroduced to the same individual.

  • Allogenic: Sourced from another individual of the same species, such as siblings.

  • Syngenic: Transplantation between identical twins.

  • Xenogenic: Transplantation from a different species.

Tissue Characteristics

  • Cartilage:

    • Avascular (no blood supply)

    • Aneural (no nerves)

    • Alymphatic (no lymphatics)

Organ Systems in the Human Body

  1. Skeletal: Framework, movement.

  2. Muscular: Movement through contractions.

  3. Circulatory: Nutrient transport.

  4. Digestive: Food breakdown.

  5. Urinary: Waste excretion.

  6. Nervous: Communication between body parts.

  7. Endocrine: Hormone regulation.

  8. Lymphatic: Fluid drainage and immune function.

  9. Respiratory: Gas exchange.

  10. Reproductive: Gamete production and nurturing new life.

Stem Cells

  • Types:

    • Embryonic Stem Cells: Derived from 3-5 day old embryos, pluripotent (can differentiate into any cell type).

    • Adult Stem Cells: Found in tissues like bone marrow, multipotent (can differentiate into several related cell types).

    • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs): Adult cells reprogrammed to an embryonic-like state.

Morphogenesis

  • Definition: The process through which cells and tissues form organized structures.

  • Types of Induction:

    • Permissive: Conditions allow potential to manifest.

    • Instructive: Cell types interact to lead to specific developmental outcomes.

Cellular Reprogramming Techniques

  1. Exogenous Approach: Introduces transcription factors via viral vectors.

  2. Endogenous Approach: CRISPR/Cas9 for direct genomic edits.

  3. Pharmacological Approach: Uses drugs to trigger epigenetic changes.

Key Challenges in Tissue Engineering

  • Vascularization: Ensuring engineered tissues develop sufficient blood supply.

  • Cell Selection: Identifying appropriate cell types for specific tissue regeneration.

  • Ethical Issues: Addressing moral concerns related to stem cell use and modification.

  • Tissue Compatibility: Preventing rejection and ensuring functionality post-implants.

Overview of Historical Context in Tissue Engineering

  • Tissue engineering has roots tracing back to ancient surgical techniques, such as rhinoplasty documented in ancient texts.

  • Modern tissue engineering began taking shape in the 1970s with the development of biocompatible materials and synthetic scaffolds.

Study Tips

  • Focus on bolded and emphasized terms for multiple-choice preparation.

  • Understand the distinctions between different types of stem cells and their applications in regenerative medicine.

  • Review diagrams and functions of organ systems thoroughly for short-answer questions.

  • Relate historical milestones to contemporary practices for a deeper understanding of the field.