By Elijah Powell
Photo by Polina Tankilevitch via Pexels.com
Introduction
Tissue Engineering is a subdiscipline of biomedical engineering. This subdiscipline focuses on building devices that repair tissues. In this article, I will discuss one of the clinical applications of these technologies. One of the most common applications of tissue engineering is micro-needling. Micro-needling is a procedure utilized for its ability to heal skin conditions, such as scarring and hyperpigmentation.
Micro-needling
The Micro-needling procedure itself is relatively simple. The dermatologist will appropriately sterilize the needles on the device and clean/numb the desired area. Once all of the preliminary procedures are finished, the area is penetrated by the needles. Once the micro-needling is done the healing process can begin. This healing process rejuvenates skin by replenishing cells. The underlying process that repairs this tissue is called hemostasis. This process serves as the foundation for all tissue engineering technologies. Hemostasis is a multiphase process, including a vascular, platelet, coagulation, and fibrinolysis phase
Hemostasis
The vascular phase entails the constriction of blood vessels slowing blood flow as a result. This is followed by the platelet phase; thrombocytes(platelets) rush the injured area and create a fibrin plug that stops blood from escaping the blood vessel. both these processes lead to the coagulation of the blood. Finally, after even a couple of hours, the clot is dissolved revealing the healed blood vessel.
Micro-needle procedures are one of the most common forms of tissue engineering, we see today. Dermatologists use hemostasis research to develop new therapies to treat scars, phlebotomists leverage the phases of hemostasis to run tests, and tissue engineers use it to find new ways to develop artificial organs.
Examples
One example of a test a phlebotomist might do is a Prothrombin Time Test(PT). This test evaluates the effectiveness of blood thinners like heparin, warfarin, or coumadin. This can help determine the severity of some clotting disorders.
An example of understanding hemostasis in tissue engineering is the development of new hemostatic biomaterials that can quickly stop bleeding in emergency and trauma-related medical situations
Conclusion
Every organ in your body consists of a group of tissues. Micro-needling is an observable form of hemostasis, allowing us to understand, how tissues repair themselves. Hemostasis is the foundational research that supports tissue engineering principles.
Works Cited:
Vena, G. A., Cassano, N., Marzano, A. V., & Asero, R. (2016). The Role of Platelets in Chronic Urticaria. International archives of allergy and immunology, 169(2), 71–79. https://doi.org/10.1159/000444085
Vena, G. A., Cassano, N., Marzano, A. V., & Asero, R. (2016). The Role of Platelets in Chronic Urticaria. International archives of allergy and immunology, 169(2), 71–79. https://doi.org/10.1159/000444085
Mahardawi, B., Jiaranuchart, S., Arunjaroensuk, S., Tompkins, K. A., Somboonsavatdee, A., & Pimkhaokham, A. (2023). The effect of different hemostatic agents following dental extraction in patients under oral antithrombotic therapy: a network meta-analysis. Scientific reports, 13(1), 12519. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39023-7