What if there was a way to harness the body’s own healing powers? What if doctors didn’t have to focus solely on treating symptoms of disease and injury? What if they could use nature’s methods of healing instead?

Regenerative medicine seeks to do just that. Scientists are working to understand the mechanisms used by nature to restore damaged or diseased tissues and organs. 

Doctors are developing new therapies to simulate this regeneration of damaged human tissues. This could cure conditions that were only symptomatically treated before. 

So what is regenerative medicine, and how does it work? Read on to discover more about this fascinating new strand of medical innovation. 

What Is Regenerative Medicine?

The body has various cellular and molecular functions of regeneration which occur naturally. Regenerative medicine seeks to replicate these to repair damaged tissues and organs within the body.

Throughout history, doctors have studied by the body’s own powers to regenerate. There is evidence to suggest that doctors attempted the first tissue graft in Germany in the 16th century. 

This is a relatively new field of study.  Doctors from all over the world are working together on radical new technologies. These include tissue engineering, cellular therapies, medical devices, and artificial organs.

How Does Regenerative Medicine Work?

Synergy Bio Labs describe regenerative medicine as a “game-changer”. It focuses on regrowing, replacing, or repairing damaged cells. The body has a natural power to heal and defend itself when injured or diseased. Regenerative medicine replicates and applies this in a clinically focused way. 

So what is the main use of regenerative medicine? There are several fields of innovation, outlined below.

Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials 

Tissue engineering aims to assemble functional structures to restore, maintain, or improve damaged organs or tissue. By combining cells, scaffolds, and biologically active molecules, scientists can form functional tissues.

There has been some success in creating artificial skin and cartilage. Doctors have used tissue-engineered devices to treat millions of patients. The most progress has been made in the area of soft tissue, but research is ongoing for other uses. 

Cellular Therapies

The use of stem cell therapy is becoming more widespread. Stem cells can be collected from blood, bone marrow, and fat. They can then be used to reconstruct damaged tissue.

Doctors can harvest stem cells from within the patient’s own body and inject them into the site of diseased or damaged tissue. These cells can repair the surrounding cell structures. This reduces pain and inflammation and improves mobility.

Medical Devices and Artificial Organs

There is another radical area of study, which could reduce the need for donor organs. This is the use of medical devices and artificial organs to support the function of diseased or damaged organs. 

For example, patients who need heart transplants can have longer-term circularity support provided by Ventricular Assist Devices. Scientists are working on similar devices to support the function of other organ systems. These include the liver, lungs, and kidneys. 

The Future of Regenerative Medicine

We can be sure that there will be more amazing breakthroughs in the field of regenerative medicine over the coming years and decades. Scientists are determined to find ways to harness the power of nature to cure conditions that have long been considered untreatable.

Now that you know the answer to the question, “what is regenerative medicine?”, be sure to explore the rest of the website for more informative articles and interesting facts.