Healthy human tissues are composed of cellular and non-cellular components, termed the extracellular Matrix (ECM), which is the perfect natural microenvironment for all our cells (for millions of years).
Human ECM is composed of over 300 different proteins with different functions to cells, which are not all identified/characterized, however finally, the ECM orchestrates our tissue fate.
Human ECM proteins are identical in humans, where as NON-human ECM proteins may provide immune reactions in humans (as often observed in clinics). – Human ECM is also a clinical safety issue!
Human placenta is (1) a waste material, (2) available in consistent quantity and quality, (3) with a very dense blood vessel system, and (4) it provides many organ functions during the entire pregnancy– all in one...Human placenta tissues were used in medicine for a very long time...
However still, there are only limited numbers of publications/teams working with placenta ECM tissue for TERM. Is this a regulatory issue? A stem cell - hype issue? Other?
Generally, there would be sufficient human placenta tissues available for cost-effective and fully human TERM approaches in a way greater scales...
...I finally guess simply because it is harder to „get it“ when compared to animal materials, eg. bovine skin or rat tails.
However, its use for a human material based research/med dev. (targeting human medicine) is probably also a raising „public interest“ in the future?
What will be done in 10 years with human placentas? Still medical waste? Something novel? What is your opinion?
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Linguistics
- Composition Studies
- Publications