Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine as applied to the gastrointestinal tract

• Scaffolds in tissue engineering are used as temporary matrix for the cells.
• In vitro and in vivo studies were conducted to test cell–biomaterial interaction.
• The proposed bioengineered tissues focused on muscle and epithelial regeneration.
• Scaffolds seeded with cells enhanced in vivo tissue reconstruction.

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a complex system characterized by multiple cell types with a determined architectural arrangement. Tissue engineering of the GI tract aims to reinstate the architecture and function of all structural layers. The key point for successful tissue regeneration includes the use of cells/biomaterials that elucidate minimal immune response after implantation. Different biomaterial choices and cell sources have been proposed to engineer the GI tract. This review summarizes the recent advances in bioengineering the GI tract with emphasis on cell sources and scaffolding biomaterials.

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