Search

Induction therapy is one of the most important aspects in the field of transplantation. The purpose of induction therapy is not only to prevent the onset of early acute rejection but also to maximize the longevity of the graft by minimizing the use of potentially toxic maintenance agents while preventing early immunologic insults. With the development of the field and the expansion of transplant immunotherapies, induction agents have changed over time from the use of total lymphocyte irradiation to the newer therapies that target B cells and T-cell signal modulation. The ideal induction protocol confers a low rate of acute rejection with less side effects in terms of infection and malignancy as well as reduction in the maintenance regimen.

Over the past 30 years, solid organ transplantation has advanced tremendously in many facets, with great strides made in organ selection and allocation to the monitoring and treatment of rejection. Despite these breakthroughs, organ preservation and chronic rejection rates have remained largely unchanged. Recent trends in translational research have begun to address this issue, and future directions for organ preservation will have far-reaching implications for the field of transplantation as a whole. In this chapter, we will highlight the current trends and innovations in preservation techniques, with a special focus on the role that nanotechnology is playing in this frontier.