Also: whole-organ decellularization, bioartificial organs, extracellular matrix scaffolds
By washing all cells out of an organ, researchers leave a protein scaffold in the organ's shape that can be reseeded with new cells, a route toward lab-built organs.
Readiness: lab lab studies · prototype demonstrated objects · commercial products or buildings in real use · review summaries of other studies.
Atala and colleagues implanted bladders engineered from patients' own cells on scaffolds.
Built / tested: engineered bladders
As reported in: Atala, Bauer, Soker et al. (2006). Tissue-engineered autologous bladders for patients needing cystoplasty. The Lancet. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68438-9
Ott and colleagues stripped cells from rat hearts and reseeded the scaffolds, which began to beat.
Built / tested: bioartificial rat heart
As reported in: Ott, Matthiesen, Goh et al. (2008). Perfusion-decellularized matrix: using nature's platform to engineer a bioartificial heart. Nature Medicine. doi:10.1038/nm1684
Abstract only
Petersen and colleagues rebuilt rat lungs on decellularized scaffolds and briefly implanted them.
Built / tested: engineered rat lungs
As reported in: Petersen, Calle, Zhao et al. (2010). Tissue-Engineered Lungs for in Vivo Implantation. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1189345
Song and colleagues regenerated rat kidneys on decellularized scaffolds that produced urine after transplantation.
Built / tested: bioengineered rat kidney
As reported in: Song, Guyette, Gilpin et al. (2013). Regeneration and experimental orthotopic transplantation of a bioengineered kidney. Nature Medicine. doi:10.1038/nm.3154