What is Regenerative Medicine?

Regenerative medicine is a field that works on fixing or replacing parts of our body that are damaged or not working properly. This can mean helping cells, tissues, or organs get back to their normal function. Scientists use different methods to do this, like using special cells to repair damage, creating new tissues in the lab, or using materials that help the body heal.

Different Types

Regenerative medicine includes various approaches such as cell therapy, which uses living cells for healing; tissue engineering, which creates functional tissues from biological materials; and gene therapy, which involves modifying genes to address diseases. Other methods include utilizing the body’s own healing properties through techniques like autologous platelet concentrates, as well as exploring innovative processes that convert one cell type to another. Additionally, researchers are investigating extracellular vesicles for their potential role in promoting regeneration.

  • Cell Therapy: This uses special living cells to help fix or replace damaged parts of the body. Stem cells are often used because they can turn into different types of cells and help heal tissues.
  • Gene Therapy: This changes the genetic material in a person’s cells to treat or prevent diseases. It can fix genetic problems or boost the cells’ ability to repair themselves.
  • Tissue Engineering: This method mixes cells with special structures and helpful chemicals to create new tissues. The structures give the cells something to grow on and help build new tissue. 
  • Autologous Platelet Concentrates (APCs): These come from a patient’s own blood and include things like platelet-rich plasma (PRP). They have special growth factors that can possibly help heal and regenerate tissues.
  • Reprogramming and Transdifferentiation: Reprogramming changes regular cells into special stem cells, while transdifferentiation changes one type of cell directly into another type. These methods can make cells that are useful for treatment.
  • Extracellular Vesicles (EVs): These are tiny particles released by cells that carry important stuff like proteins and genetic material to other cells. They help with repairing tissues and keeping them healthy.

 

NON-FDA APPROVED TREAMENTS (but may be available through a clinical trial)

  • Stem cells
  • Stromal vascular fraction (SVF)
  • Umbilical cord blood products and/or cord blood stem cells1, amniotic fluid, Wharton’s jelly
  • Exosomes/Extracellular Vesicles

 

Non-Stem Cell Treatments (do not need FDA Approval

  • Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
  • Bone Marrow Aspirate (BMAC)
  • Microfragmented Fat (MFAT)

 

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