APPLICATIONS OF ORGAN CULTURE

1. Patterns of growth, differentiation and development of organ rudiments can be studied and the influence of various factors like hormones, vitamins, etc. on these parameters, can be evaluated.
2. Action of drugs, carcinogenic agents, etc. on the animal organ is studied in vitro, at least to serve as a guide for the events in whole animals.
3. The most significant application of organ culture is the production of tissues for implantation in patients. This is called tissue engineering. Human skin has been successfully produced in vitro and used for transplantation in more than 500 cases of serious burns, ulcers etc.

The ultimate objective of tissue engineering is to reconstitute body parts in vitro for use as grafts or transplants, and as models for studies on drug delivery and action.
It is expected that cartilage tissue developed in vitro (artificial cartilage) will be available for human implantation in case of injuries, arthritis, etc. Experiments using rabbits have produced promising results. It is hoped that studies will permit the culturing and constitution of  bones, liver, pancreas, etc.

ARTIFICIAL SKIN

The ultimate objective of tissue engineering is to reconstitute body parts in vitro for use as grafts or transplants, and as models for studies on drug delivery and action. It is expected that cartilage tissue developed in vitro (artificial cartilage) will be available for human implantation in case of injuries, arthritis, etc. Experiments using rabbits have produced promising results. It is hoped that studies will permit the culturing and constitution of  bones, liver, pancreas, etc. ARTIFICIAL SKIN It has become possible to produce the skin-to be more correct, the epidermis portion of the skin-in vitro. When this epidermis is the reconstitution of the epidermis and dermis i.e. the complete skin-called living skin equivalent (LSE). This necessitates the addition of a collagen matrix as a support for tissue growth.

The source of explant is either the patient itself or the prepuce of new born babies. The use of a synthetic polymer PGA, allows the new born skin to grow without scars. This artificial skin is used to cover the wound until the patient's skin is cultured and artificial skin is obtained for grafting. The keratinocytes making up the bulk of the epidermis is trypsioized. These cells are cultured in vessels, the bottom of which is covered with irradiated 3T3 fibroblast cell line. Proliferation of keratinocytes is stimulated by certain products from fibroblasts.