From the Guidelines
Scaffolds play no direct role in nephrology.
Role of Scaffolds in Nephrology
- There is no mention of scaffolds in the provided evidence, which focuses on the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in nephrology 1.
- The study discusses the potential of EVs in understanding intranephron signaling and their role in transferring functional proteins between cells, but does not mention scaffolds.
- The lack of information on scaffolds in the context of nephrology suggests that they may not be a significant area of research in this field, at least not in the context of the provided evidence.
- The evidence provided is focused on the mechanisms of EVs in nephrology, including their role in carrying and transferring functional proteins, and inducing pro-fibrotic signatures in certain cell types 1.
From the Research
Role of Scaffolds in Nephrology
- Scaffolds have been recognized as a potential tool for kidney regeneration and tissue engineering in the context of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Decellularized scaffolds derived from pathological kidneys have been shown to have the potential to study fibrosis mechanisms and serve as engineering donors for tissue regeneration 2
- Cell-on-scaffold seeding technology (CSST) has been identified as a promising approach for kidney regeneration, involving cells seeded throughout supporting scaffold structures made from biomaterials 3
- Multiplexed scaffolds incorporating bioactive components, such as nitric oxide-releasing zinc oxide and melatonin-modulated extracellular vesicles, have been developed to enhance kidney regenerative activities 4
- Revascularization of the renal microvasculature has been proposed as a potential therapeutic strategy to restore kidney function and regenerate the structure of the diseased kidney, with scaffolds serving as a platform for this process 5
- Decellularized kidney scaffolds have been shown to alter the healing response in chronic renal failure, reducing fibrosis and promoting renal recovery 6
- Key benefits of scaffolds in nephrology include:
- Potential to slow or prevent the progression of fibrosis
- Ability to serve as a model for cellular mechanisms of tissue fibrosis
- Capacity to promote renal regeneration and tissue engineering
- Possibility to reduce the need for kidney replacement therapies
- Potential to enhance the expression of regenerative markers, such as CD133 6