Nanoengineered Biomaterials for Diaphragm Regeneration Publisher



Navaei T¹ ; Milan PB^{2, 3} ; Davari HR⁴ ; Samadikuchaksaraei A^{2, 3} ; Mozafari M^{1, 2, 3} Show Affiliations
Source: Nanoengineered Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine Published:2018

Abstract

The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. The diaphragm plays a vital role in the respiratory system. With each contraction of the diaphragm toward the bottom of the rib cage, the lungs expand and fill with air, expanding the thoracic cavity and decreasing intrathoracic pressure and drawing air into the lungs. When the diaphragm relaxes, the elastic recoil of the lungs predominates, which causes exhalation. The diaphragm is also important in expulsive actions such as sneezing, coughing, vomiting, and crying. Dysfunctions of the diaphragm can be classified as paralysis, weakness, or eventration. One of the common abnormal developments of the diaphragm is congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), which has been reported to be as high as 1 in 2500 births. Treating CDH is a challenging issue in tissue engineering. Advances in regenerative medicine suggest innovative options for the repair of diaphragmatic defects. By combining tissue engineering and cell transplantation, scientists aim to replace damaged tissues and organs. Before reconstructing diaphragmatic defects, it is important to understand two primary factors: the mechanism of CDH and that the substitute tissue should be biologically and biomechanically similar to the part of the native diaphragm it is replacing. Once the diaphragm is repaired, the affected lungs should also function normally. © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.