Regenerative medicine for childhood gastrointestinal diseases

Several paediatric gastrointestinal diseases result in life-shortening organ failure. For many of these conditions, current therapeutic options are suboptimal and may not offer a cure. Regenerative medicine is an interdisciplinary field involving biologists, engineers, and clinicians that aims to produce cell and tissue-based therapies to overcome organ failure. Exciting advances in stem cell biology, materials science, and bioengineering bring engineered gastrointestinal cell and tissue therapies to the verge of clinical trial. In this review, we summarise the requirements for bioengineered therapies, the possible sources of the various cellular and noncellular components, and the progress towards clinical translation of oesophageal and intestinal tissue engineering to date.

Automated summary

Several paediatric gastrointestinal diseases lead to organ failure and shorter lifespan. Current therapeutic options are not ideal, but regenerative medicine offers potential cell and tissue-based therapies to overcome this. Exciting advances in stem cell biology, materials science, and bioengineering have brought engineered gastrointestinal cell and tissue therapies to the brink of clinical trials.