Bioreactor systems for tissue engineering

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The editors of this special volume express gratitude to all authors for their outstanding contributions and acknowledge Prof. Dr. Thomas Scheper, Dr. Marion Hertel, and Ulrike Kreusel for enabling this project, along with Springer for their organizational support. Tissue engineering is a rapidly evolving field within modern biotechnology, integrating biological and material sciences with engineering and clinical disciplines. Its primary goal is to develop therapeutic strategies to replace or enhance the function of diseased organs or tissues. This involves using three-dimensional biocompatible materials seeded with cells and cultivated in appropriate systems to create functional tissues. Key factors in forming these 3D structures include the source of cells, with autologous cells being preferred to minimize rejection and immune responses. Stem cells, in particular, are crucial as they can be differentiated into various tissues through specific media and supplements. In biomaterials, a variety of scaffold materials are available, and new composites are being developed from polymeric, natural, or xenogenic sources. Additionally, the controlled formation of tissues under reproducible conditions is essential, leading to the development of numerous innovative bioreactors.