Limb Regrowth and Tissue Engineering Alternatives

Abstract

We present a review and discussion on the current state of the sciences and research on limb restoration, exploring two potential strategies: (1) regenerative capabilities from the amputated stump and (2) tissue engineering approaches to reconstruct a lost limb. Examining the possibility for a human amputated limb to be regenerated in a fashion similar to that of a salamander’s amputated limb, we discuss current scientific understanding of specific species with regenerative capabilities involving progression through a series of definable stages beginning with wound healing and culminating in the redifferentiation of a new limb. We then examine the regenerative capabilities of mammals, including humans and mice, and discuss the possibility and requirements for enhancing regenerative capabilities in complex tissues such as the finger or limb. The process for driving limb regeneration may parallel the events involved in heterotopic ossification, a condition in which bone cells develop from traumatized tissues or tissues surrounding a certain radius of the trauma. We discuss how discoveries uncovered in the regenerative processes could be used to help control unwanted bone tissue formation of amputated human limbs and thereby enable improved prosthetic fitting and minimized associated pain. Finally, we summarize the current state of tissue engineering capabilities and challenges in reconstructing the human limb.