T.J. Webster
Hebei University of Technology and Interstellar Therapeutics,
United States
Keywords: tissue engineering, artificial intelligence, infection, cancer, regenerative medicine
Summary:
Artificial intelligence (AI) has already revolutionized numerous industries, yet, its use in tissue engineering is almost non-existent. This invited presentation will provide a summary of how AI can be used to design better tissue engineering materials for various biomedical applications. In particular, AI is being used in tissue engineering to develop improved materials to prevent, diagnose, and treat various diseases from cancer to infection. Specifically, here, implantable sensors were designed, fabricated, and tested which incorporate AI to improve healthy tissue regrowth. Such sensors can detect the type of cell that attaches to an implant, communicate such information to a handheld device, and respond to ensure tissue engineering material success. In particular, such sensors have been tested in animal studies in which sensors were inserted into the calvaria of rats, bacteria purposedly injected, and sensors used to detect bacteria presence as well as promote the on-demand release of antibiotics to eliminate infection and tissue growth factors to promote bone growth. Further, AI has been used in such tissue engineering materials to predict what types of drug delivery vehicles will be most effective for that particular patient based on prior patient health data and real time response to therapies. Tissue engineering material shape has also been controlled through the use of AI and tissue engineering materials for spinal applications to mechanically support bone growth on-demand for the best results. It is well known that due to variations in immune systems from patient to patient, patients will respond differently to the same tissue engineering material and drug treatment, thus, personalized or tailored treatments are necessary and can result from AI. In vitro, in vivo, and human clinical studies will be presented in which AI has already improved tissue engineering material efficacy. In this manner, this presentation presents a positive view on the implementation of AI into medicine via tissue engineering showing how they both can be used in harmony to improve disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.