Porcine Materials in Medical and Research Applications
The use of swine as models in biomedical research provide many industries with materials that have a wide range of uses that benefit the common good. Many porcine materials are used to create many everyday products, but a growing use of pig coproducts comes from medical devices and biomedical research. For biomedical research purposes, pigs play an extremely important role since their physiology is similar to humans. Because of the similarities in skin, muscles, organs and other internal systems, research models derived from porcine tissue (pig tissue) are superior to other models since the likelihood of similar effects/results in humans are high. Porcine tissue finds widespread use in various medical and research applications.
Translational Research
Translational medicine (AKA translational research) takes a multidisciplinary approach to put into practice the gains made through scientific research. Translational research aims to increase the speed at which new discoveries can directly benefit patients to improve health and overall wellness. One aspect of translational research is the study of cell cultures or animal models, which can be porcine models, to treat diseases. The use of swine in the laboratory plays an important role in the study of various biological systems and organs:
- Cardiovascular system
- Reproductive system
- Digestive system
- Muscles, bones and joints
- Brain
- Skin
Organ Transplants
The common traits of pig and human organs make the use of porcine tissue crucial to solving the problem of organ donor availability. While scientists in biomedical research are looking at the prospects of xenotransplantation and genetic modification in pigs to fill the donor gap, pig co-products play an immediate role in developing medicines to help donor recipients improve their chances of transplant success. Exploring the potential of pig-derived materials can significantly impact the future of organ transplantation and medical advancements.
Regenerative Medicine
In treating wounds and trauma, porcine tissue is integral in helping patients heal and potentially regrow portions of their bodies. When it comes to treating injuries, doctors and researchers use an extracellular matrix (ECM) to promote the body’s natural regenerative and restorative processes. ECMs are a collection of biological material that help structure cells into new tissues. With ECMs, a wide variety of tissue types can be created/restored. Medical ECMs are primarily made from porcine tissue.
Porcine tissues and other pig co-products provide a strong support structure to the creation of many products and the development of new innovations. While most people only know the use of pigs as a food source, the secondary harvest of pigs helps to eliminate waste while benefitting a wide range of industries. The harvesting of pig co-products helps maintain a responsible and sustainable method of animal stewardship.
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Porcine Research FAQ’s
Why are porcine (pig) tissues used in biomedical research?
Because pigs have physiology, skin, muscles, organs and internal systems that are very similar to humans, using porcine tissues gives researchers a model that better predicts how treatments will behave in humans.
What kinds of human biological systems or organs can porcine materials help study?
Porcine-derived materials are used to study many biological systems and organs, including the cardiovascular system, reproductive system, digestive system, musculoskeletal (muscles, bones, joints), the brain, skin, and organs relevant to transplants.
How are porcine tissues used in organ transplants or transplant-related research?
Because of the similarity between pig and human organs, porcine tissue plays an important role in addressing organ-donor shortages, pig-derived materials can be used in research into xenotransplantation and genetic modification of pigs, and pig co-products currently help develop medicines and treatments that improve transplant success for donor recipients.
What role do porcine tissues play in regenerative medicine and wound healing?
In regenerative medicine, porcine tissue (especially extracellular matrix, ECM, derived from pig tissue) helps support the body’s natural healing and regenerative processes. ECMs enable restoration or regrowth of damaged tissues, helping in wound treatments and recovery from trauma.
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