TABLE 1.
TE/RM Process/Need | Pharmacological Application |
---|---|
Functional evaluation of engineered and regenerating tissues | Preclinical assessment and pharmacological characterization of tissue/organ phenotype in vitro and in vivo* |
Modulation of stem/progenitor cell expansion and differentiation | Screening of growth factor and small molecule libraries; development of improved culture systems (overlap of pharmacology and engineering) ** |
Targeted cellular delivery of drugs/chemicals to modulate regeneration in vivo | Development of novel drug delivery systems including biomaterials, nanomaterials, and bifunctional compounds that target active agents to specific tissue locations** |
Biomaterials as reservoirs for bioactive agents and cell delivery vehicles for accelerated tissue formation and function in vitro and in vivo | Development of functionalized “smart” biomaterials** |
Real-time modulation of tissue formation/regeneration/morphogenesis* | Pharmacological modulation of the entire regenerative process: may incorporate all of the above elements, with the added complexity of replicating the exquisite spatiotemporal regulation characteristic of morphogen gradients in normal development** |
denotes a “passive or dissecting” contribution of regenerative pharmacology; **denotes an “active or directing” role.