Scientists engineer artificial organs for integration into the human body to replace, duplicate, or augment functional, naturally occurring organs. They pose a solution to organ donor shortages, and can also be used as medical training tools.

Based on the materials researchers use to produce them, artificial organs are divided into three main classes.

Mechanical artificial organs are made exclusively of inanimate polymers such as plastics and metals;

biomechanical organs involve both living materials such as cells and inanimate materials;

and biological or bioartificial organs can be made of living cells and biodegradable polymers.