spare parts for vital Organs.

ARTIFICIAL organs; TRANSPLANTATION of organs, tissues, etc.; ARTERIAL grafts; CULTURES (Biology); BIOTECHNOLOGY; STEM cells

This article reports that bioartificial organs--a merger of mechanical parts with cells grown in laboratory cultures--could reduce premature death, improve quality of life and serve as vital bridges for seniors waiting for natural-organ transplants. In the U.S., thousands of people die annually waiting for a transplant, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. Engineering whole organs from scratch using pristine stem cells that can differentiate into any kind of body tissue would be the ultimate solution. But that is a longer-term prospect. For now, bioartificial organs offer the greatest hope for spare parts that can perform the complex tasks of a kidney, pancreas or liver.