Engineering human tissues for in vivo applications: storage and translational issues for tissue repair and regeneration

Tissue engineering is a rapidly developing field. This technology could offer a new alternative for wound repair and organ replacement. It is based on the ability of living cells, with or without biomaterials, to reconstruct three-dimensional tissues. The in vivo applications extend from specialized dressing that improve host tissue repair (e.g. ulcer) to permanent grafts that restore the function of the tissue (e.g. skin grafting for burned patients).