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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Jul 1.
Published in final edited form as: Semin Nephrol. 2014 Jun 13;34(4):384–393. doi: 10.1016/j.semnephrol.2014.06.005

Table 2. Optimal design criteria to generate a fully functional transplantable bioengineered kidney graft.

This table outlines the ideal components of a bioengineered kidney that would be fully functional and clinically efficacious for use in humans.

Structure Scaffold

  • Biocompatible (non-toxic to cells and recipient)

  • Outline basic organ architecture (artery, vein, ureter, parenchyma)

  • Maintain integrity during culture and post-implantation

  • Provide niche for site-specific cell engraftment, differentiation, and function
Cells

  • Autologous

  • Viable

  • Basic function

  • Self-renewing

Organ assembly

  • Enable perfusion, filtration, and drainage of filtrate during culture and post-implantation

  • In vivo remodeling and maturation

Function Filtration

  • Excretion and reabsorption to maintain balance of

    • electrolytes

    • acid/base

    • volume

  • Macromolecular sieving

  • Glucose reabsorption
Hormonal

  • Erythropoietin

  • Calcitriol

  • Renin production

Other

  • Gluconeogenesis

  • Peptide hormone catabolism

Safety Implantation

  • Surgical anastomoses and tissue handling comparable to donor organ

  • Vascular integrity to prevent hemorrhage and coagulation
Minimize antigenicity

  • Scaffold

  • Cells

Sterility
Clinical monitoring

  • Durability of the construct