**6. Conclusion**

conditions. These are just examples of how gene regulation can lead to significant changes in tissue regeneration and improved clinical outcomes; and future research will be needed

In addition to novel gene regulation techniques, there have also been advancements made in the promising area of three-dimensional (3D) printing for medical needs. 3D printing has revolutionised many aspects of our lives, with its uses and benefits still being tested in medicine. 3D printing has the potential to revolutionise the way we practice medicine and tissue regeneration and transplantation are two fields where opportunities are endless. It is a wellknown fact that the need and demand for organ and tissue replacement largely outweighs the supply, even with recently increasing numbers of deceased donors [50]. What if we could eliminate the need for donors and, at the same time, resolve a major issue associated with

**Figure 6.** Bone scaffolds generated by selective laser sintering, (A) image of the scaffold, (B) front view, (C) top view and

(D) back view of bone scaffold parts, courtesy of Do et al. [50].

to assess safety of such gene therapies for widespread use.

**5. 3D printing**

58 Tissue Regeneration

This comprehensive chapter summarised the subject of tissue regeneration in a variety of different fields of surgery. We explored the use of acellular dermal matrices in plastic and reconstructive surgery (e.g., for treatment of burns), breast surgery (e.g., for immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy) and general surgery (e.g., abdominal wall repair). Stem cellbased therapies were also discussed to reflect the promise they hold in aiding tissue regeneration in the coming years. Particular focus was placed on adipose tissue-derived stem cells and adult mesenchymal stem cells, both of which are a potentially revolutionary therapy in regenerative medicine. Finally, we discussed potential future benefits of using three-dimensional printed scaffolds and gene regulation—both of these fields are currently being investigated by scientists across the world to discover how best to adapt these techniques in day-to-day clinical practice.
