Lab-Grown Organs: Transplant Lists End

The provided text explores the complex field of lab-grown organs, detailing the urgent need for alternatives to traditional organ donation due to chronic shortages and the challenge of immune rejection. It outlines the scientific advancements enabling organ bioengineering, specifically highlighting the roles of stem cells and biomaterials in creating new tissues. The document further describes key biofabrication methodologies like organoid self-assembly, 3D bioprinting, and decellularization-recellularization. Finally, it assesses the current status of engineered organs, distinguishing between successes with simpler tissues and the ongoing challenges of creating complex solid organs, while also comparing this approach to xenotransplantation and mechanical devices as alternative solutions.