Despite its promise, intestinal tissue engineering faces several challenges:
- Complexity of the Intestinal Structure: The intestine is a highly complex organ with multiple cell types and a unique architecture that is difficult to replicate. - Vascularization: Ensuring adequate blood supply to the engineered tissue is critical for its survival and function, but this remains a significant challenge. - Immune Response: There is a risk of immune rejection, especially if the cells or scaffolds are not fully biocompatible. - Scaling Up: Producing tissue at a scale sufficient for clinical application is another hurdle that researchers are working to overcome.