Skin regeneration: the complexities of translation into clinical practise.

The integration of engineering into biological science has resulted in the capacity to provide tissue engineered solutions for tissue damage. Skin regeneration remains the goal of skin repair to reduce the long term consequences of scarring to the individual. A scar is abnormal in its architecture, chemistry and cell phenotype, tissue engineering of scaffolds and cells opens up the potential of tissue regeneration into the future. Tissue engineering solutions have been applied to skin many decades despite technical success the clinical application has been modest. To realise the potential of the developing technologies needs alignment of not only the science and engineering but also the commercial upscaling of production in a safe and regulated framework for clinical use. In addition the education and training for the introduction of new technology within the health system is essential, bringing together the technology and systems for utilisation to optimise the patient outcome. This article is part of a Directed Issue entitled: Regenerative Medicine: The challenge of translation.