Future of encapsulation in regenerative medicine

Abstract

The current therapy of transplanting intact organs and tissues to cure organ and tissue failures and loss is hampered by a scarcity of donors and, frequently, significant immunological problems, but these issues could be overcome with the use of cell therapy in regenerative medicine technologies. Cell-based therapy has already opened up new possibilities in clinical applications for diseases that are resistant to traditional treatment. Numerous cell-related studies have been conducted to treat a variety of diseases and injuries, including cardiovascular disease, neurological abnormalities, musculoskeletal deformities, and osteoarthritis. As a result, cell encapsulation in homogenous micro-sized hydrogels and transplantation in vivo have recently attracted a lot of interest for minimally invasive administration and improving the therapeutic actions of transplanted cells. This chapter discusses the current state of the art and future directions in the field of cell encapsulation in the context of regenerative medicine. We also discuss current advancements in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, as well as recent advances in hydrogel design for cell encapsulation. Understanding the current state of cell implantation technology, as well as its limits, will, in our opinion, enable the creation of new tactics and increasingly successful cell-based transplantation therapies.