ABSTRACT
Simultaneously, knowledge of the biologic sciences (cell biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry) increased rapidly, and new techniques for cell harvesting, culture, and expansion were developed. The concept of cell transplantation was developed and culminated with the first human bone marrow cell transplant in the 1970s. At this time, researchers began to combine the scientific fields of devices and materials sciences with cell biology, and in effect started a new field called “tissue engineering.” Tissue engineering was defined as “a field which applies the principles of engineering and life sciences towards the development of biological substitutes that restore or improve tissue function” (1) . The first use of the term “tissue engineering” in the literature can be traced to a reference dealing with corneal tissue in 1985 (2) .
