UAB researchers successfully developed a 3-D nano scaffolding technique to regrow organs. A team from UAB's Department of Biomedical Engineering and School of Medicine collaborated on creating a nano-sized matrix that cells favor adhering to and growing on, forming the framework of an organ or tissue. UAB's specialized FLUF technique allows for a more even distribution of nano fibers in a loose matrix, permitting more uniform cell deposition. The researchers believe this model could be used to regrow organs like the pancreas. This represents the first viable organ regrowth procedure using 3-D nano scaffolds.

1. UAB first:3-D nano scaffolding can regrow organs -
Birmingham science news
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) published a news report of the development of a
successful 3-D nano scaffold by engineers and scientists at UAB on January 26, 2011.
Bryan Adam Blakeney (UAB Department. Of Biomedical Engineering), Ajay Tambralli (UAB School of
Medicine), Ho-Wook Jun, Ph.D., assistant professor of biomedical engineering, biomedical
engineering graduate student trainees Joel Anderson and Adinarayana Andukuri; biomedical
engineering graduate research assistant Dong-Jin Lim; and Derrick Dean, Ph.D., an associate
professor in the UAB Department of Materials Science and Engineering collaborated on the
development of the process.
The basic idea is to create a nano sized matrix that cells of a specific type favor adhering to and
growing on. The matrix forms the basic framework of an organ or a particular tissue.
UAB's specialized touch is called FLUF (focused, low-density, uncompressed nanofibrous mesh)
which allows a more complete and even disposition of nano fibers in a loose matrix that will allow
cells to be deposited more evenly and uniformly.
The researchers envision the potential to regrow a pancreas and other organs using this model.
This is the first production viable organ regrowth procedure using 3-D nano scaffolds. Other
procedures using similar techniques have been shown to regrow teeth from stem cells in just a few
weeks.
A video of the production process can be seen here.
The formal report appeared in the journal Biomaterials