Human Amnion as a Cell Delivery Vehicle for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Applications

Human amnion (HAM) is a biomaterial used in clinical settings with good safety records since it was first introduced as an effective means for managing open wounds and burns. It is a great resource for tissue engineering, a multi-disciplinary field in science that involves cells, matrix, and biological factors that provide cues to the cells. Regenerative medicine is an emerging field of science that aims to replace or regenerate human cells, tissues, or organs to establish, restore, or even enhance normal tissue function after an injury or degeneration due to ageing. HAM is a promising biomaterial that can be used as a cell carrier that promotes stem cell proliferation as well as differentiation for tissue regeneration. This chapter discusses the potential applications of HAM in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine as an "off-the-shelf" biomaterial derived from biowaste (or clinical waste) and as a sustainable green technology-related product.