Scientists: 'Scaffold' Key to Regrowing Human Limbs

Published January 14, 2015

Scientists have developed a new biologically active "scaffold" made from soluble fibers, which may help humans replace lost or missing bone similar to how lizards regrow their tails when they are cut off, according to ScienceDaily .

Scaffolds could also be the key to humans living longer.

Professor Meital Zilberman of Tel Aviv University's Department of Biomedical Engineering said the research may lead to the basic technology needed for regenerating other types of human tissues, including muscle, arteries and skin.

"The bioactive agents that spur bone and tissue to regenerate are available to us. The problem is that no technology has been able to effectively deliver them to the tissue surrounding that missing bone," Zilberman told ScienceDaily.

A research team at Britain's Leeds University has already managed to make fully functioning heart valves for transplanting, and trials in animals and on 40 patients in Brazil have shown promising results.

Scientists have also had success using stem cells to regenerate tissue and bone.

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