三维支架材料中软骨细胞生长过程的数值模拟

组织工程是临床上用于修复以及重建受损软骨的一项有广泛应用前景的方法。但是在支架材料内部物质传递仅仅依赖于扩散,这是支架材料中细胞生长的主要限制因素。利用氧扩散-反应基本原理建立了软骨细胞生长过程的数学模型,同时考虑了由于细胞生长引起的扩散系数下降以及空间抑制因素对细胞生长的影响。模拟结果与实验数据吻合良好,表明该模型对材料内部的细胞生长的分析具有较高的可靠性,可用于组织工程生物反应器以及三维多孔支架材料的优化设计。     

三维支架材料中软骨细胞生长过程的数值模拟

组织工程是临床上用于修复以及重建受损软骨的一项有广泛应用前景的方法。但是在支架材料内部物质传递仅仅依赖于扩散,这是支架材料中细胞生长的主要限制因素。利用氧扩散-反应基本原理建立了软骨细胞生长过程的数学模型,同时考虑了由于细胞生长引起的扩散系数下降以及空间抑制因素对细胞生长的影响。模拟结果与实验数据吻合良好,表明该模型对材料内部的细胞生长的分析具有较高的可靠性,可用于组织工程生物反应器以及三维多孔支架材料的优化设计。     

骨再生的力学生物学问题

生物力学主要探讨力学刺激与细胞的形态、结构和功能之间的关系。骨组织改变其形态和结构以适应力学刺激,表现为骨的适应性重建。骨的生长是骨塑形和骨重建两个过程协同作用的结果,以调整骨的形状、大小和组成,适应其所处的力学环境。骨组织工程的目的就是修复骨组织的正常生物力学功能。近年来,骨组织工程的研究主要集中于模拟骨生长的在体生理条件,从而刺激细胞形成有功能的骨组织。生物反应器能够模拟体内生理状态,为种子细胞在生物支架材料上生长提供一个适宜的力学环境。     

利用脱细胞血管基质体外构建小口径组织工程血管

目的探讨利用犬的间充质干细胞诱导分化种子细胞,以异种脱细胞血管基质为基础体外构建小口径血管移植物。方法采用密度梯度离心和贴壁培养的方法从犬骨髓中分离出间充质干细胞并体外培养,诱导分化成内皮样细胞和平滑肌样细胞;采用非离子型去垢剂和胰蛋白酶去除猪颈动脉血管壁结构细胞,对脱细胞基质进行组织学、力学检测及孔隙率评估。在生物反应器内采用旋转种植的方法将犬骨髓间充质干细胞诱导的内皮样细胞种植到脱细胞基质上,体外构建小口径组织工程血管。结果犬的骨髓间充质干细胞体外能够定向诱导分化为平滑肌样细胞和内皮样细胞,可以作为血管组织工程的种子细胞。经过脱细胞处理后,光镜和电镜观察证实血管壁的细胞成分完全去除。具有良好的孔径和孔隙率。支架在生物力学、孔隙率等方面符合构建组织工程血管支架的要求。在生物反应器内剪切力条件下可以初步构建出组织工程血管。结论小口径血管移植物可以将间充质干细胞诱导种子细胞,以异种脱细胞血管支架作为基质,在搏动性生物反应器内培养的方法进行构建。     

心肌组织工程的研究现状

心肌组织工程的目的是通过在体外构建思想的心肌组织工程,用于替代和修复病损的心肌组织,从心肌组织工程的细胞来源,细胞培养基,细胞接种,细胞支架,生物反应器5个方面介绍心肌组织工程的研究现状。     

皮肤组织工程支架材料

皮肤组织工程支架材料为种子细胞提供生长和代谢的环境,是人工皮肤研究中的重要内容,可按来源分为合成支架材料和天然支架材料。近几年的研究重点是:前者通过表面仿生技术增强其对细胞的黏附性;后者通过物理或化学方法提高其力学性能和渗透性等。今后应重点研究以下内容:深入研究合成支架材料的表面改性,进一步提高其引导细胞行为的功能,促进材料对细胞的黏附;进一步提高天然支架材料的微观渗透性和生物活性,促进毛细血管的长入;制备结构仿生支架材料及高活性复合支架材料。     

几丁聚糖在组织工程中的应用

支架材料作为组织工程的生物学植入替代物,对细胞移植与引导新组织生长有重要的作用。几丁聚糖可制成无毒性,无刺激性,生物相容性和生物可降解性良好的生物医用材料,在人工皮肤,骨修复材料,手术缝线等方面已广泛应用。本文分析了纯几丁聚糖支架结构和它与其他天然或合成材料复合的支架结构的物理、化学性质及其独特的生物学功能,同时还进一步介绍了其应用的范例并探讨了发展前景。     

丝素蛋白在组织工程中的应用及进展

组织工程是生物支架材料、种子细胞和生物活性因子的有机组合,其中支架材料为种子细胞的黏附载体,为细胞的生长增殖及新陈代谢提供适宜的微环境,并最终被生物体逐渐降解而被再生组织替代。支架材料为周围组织提供机械支持,并引导再生组织按照预定结构和方向生长。同时,各种生物活性物质可以加入支架材料中,比如各种生长因子以及抗体等,扩大了支架材料的应用范围。丝素蛋白具有可控且缓慢的生物降解性,突出的机械性能,良好的生物相容性,支持多种细胞的黏附、生长和分化增殖,已经用于血管、骨、软骨及神经组织等方面的组织工程研究。     

丝素蛋白在电纺丝法构建组织工程支架中的应用进展

丝素蛋白是天然高分子纤维蛋白,具有良好的物理和机械力学性能及生物相容性,因而在组织工程领域有着广阔的应用前景。文中对丝素蛋白的化学组成、分子结构特点、提取方法以及利用静电纺丝技术在组织工程化支架构建中的应用作了概述。总结了丝素蛋白在用于组织工程材料上的性能和优势以及在人工血管、皮肤、骨组织等工程化支架方面的应用情况,探讨了丝素蛋白支架对细胞在其上生长、增殖和功能的影响,同时对丝素蛋白在组织工程化食道支架及其他再生医学上的应用前景进行了展望。     

皮肤细胞复合改性聚乳酸构建组织工程皮肤

目的:探讨以改性聚乳酸为细胞外基质网架构建组织工程皮肤的可行性。方法:采用盐溶法制备机械性能得到部分改进的聚乳酸多孔泡沫网架,向改进的聚乳酸网架接种真皮成纤维细胞和表皮角质形成细胞,以普通聚乳酸支架作为对照,构建组织工程皮肤。体外培养一周,对网架进行形态学观察。主要观察指标:①一般形态观察②组织学观察。结果:复层组织工程皮肤在结构上与正常皮肤相似,具有真皮、表皮双层结构。改性聚乳酸网架上有双层细胞生长,生长的细胞与网架接触,并且在其表面形成较为明显而连续的细胞层。随着培养时间的延长,发生了一系列变化:表皮部分细胞层数逐渐增多,真皮部分细胞也逐渐增多,并向表皮层深入,位于表皮与网架之间。结论:双醛淀粉作为良好的增柔剂在改善聚乳酸网架的机械性能的同时,也具有良好的细胞相容性,不影响细胞的生长增殖和代谢,可以进一步用作组织工程皮肤的支架材料。     

A bioreactor system for interfacial culture and physiological perfusion of vascularized tissue equivalents

A pivotal requirement for the generation of vascularized tissue equivalents is the development of culture systems that provide a physiological perfusion of the vasculature and tissue-specific culture conditions. Here, we present a bioreactor system that is suitable to culture vascularized tissue equivalents covered with culture media and at the air–medium interface, which is a vital stimulus for skin tissue. For the perfusion of the vascular system a new method was integrated into the bioreactor system that creates a physiological pulsatile medium flow between 80 and 120 mmHg to the arterial inflow of the equivalent's vascular system. Human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (hDMECs) were injected into the vascular system of a biological vascularized scaffold based on a decellularized porcine jejunal segment and cultured in the bioreactor system for 14 days. Histological analysis and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) staining revealed that the hDMECs were able to recolonize the perfused vascular structures and expressed endothelial cell specific markers such as platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule and von Willebrand factor. These results indicate that our bioreactor system can serve as a platform technology to generate advanced bioartificial tissues with a functional vasculature for future clinical applications.     

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) hollow fibre membranes for use as a tissue engineering scaffold

Mass transfer limitations of scaffolds are currently hindering the development of 3-dimensional, clinically viable, tissue engineered constructs. We have developed a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) hollow fibre membrane scaffold that will provide support for cell culture, allow psuedovascularisation in vitro and provide channels for angiogenesis in vivo. We produced P(DL)LGA flat sheet membranes using 1, 4-dioxane and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) as solvents and water as the nonsolvent, and hollow fibre membranes, using NMP and water, by dry/wet- and wet-spinning. The resulting fibres had an outer diameter of 700 micro m and an inner diameter of 250 micro m with 0.2-1.0 micro m pores on the culture surface. It was shown that varying the air gap and temperature when spinning changed the morphology of the fibres. The introduction of a 50 mm air gap caused a dense skin of 5 micro m thick to form, compared to a skin of 0.5 micro m thick without an air gap. Spinning at 40 degrees C produced fibres with a more open central section in the wall that contained more, larger macrovoids compared to fibres spun at 20 degrees C. Culture of the immortalised osteogenic cell line 560pZIPv.neo (pZIP) was carried out on the P(DL)LGA flat sheets in static culture and in a P(DL)LGA hollow fibre bioreactor under counter-current flow conditions. Attachment and proliferation was statistically similar to tissue culture polystyrene on the flat sheets and was also successful in the hollow fibre bioreactor. The P(DL)LGA hollow fibres are a promising scaffold to address the size limitations currently seen in tissue engineered constructs.     

Effect of a mechanical stimulation bioreactor on tissue engineered, scaffold-free cartilage

Achieving sufficient functional properties prior to implantation remains a significant challenge for the development of tissue engineered cartilage. Many studies have shown chondrocytes respond well to various mechanical stimuli, resulting in the development of bioreactors capable of transmitting forces to articular cartilage in vitro. In this study, we describe the production of sizeable, tissue engineered cartilage using a novel scaffold-free approach, and determine the effect of perfusion and mechanical stimulation from a C9-x Cartigen bioreactor on the properties of the tissue engineered cartilage. We created sizable tissue engineered cartilage from porcine chondrocytes using a scaffold-free approach by centrifuging a high-density chondrocyte cell-suspension onto an agarose layer in a 50 mL tube. The gross and histological appearances, biochemical content, and mechanical properties of constructs cultured in the bioreactor for 4 weeks were compared to constructs cultured statically. Mechanical properties were determined from unconfined uniaxial compression tests. Constructs cultured in the bioreactor exhibited an increase in total GAG content, equilibrium compressive modulus, and dynamic modulus versus static constructs. Our study demonstrates the C9-x CartiGen bioreactor is able to enhance the biomechanical and biochemical properties of scaffold-free tissue engineered cartilage; however, no additional enhancement was seen between loaded and perfused groups.     

A multiphysics 3D model of tissue growth under interstitial perfusion in a tissue-engineering bioreactor

The main challenge in engineered cartilage consists in understanding and controlling the growth process towards a functional tissue. Mathematical and computational modelling can help in the optimal design of the bioreactor configuration and in a quantitative understanding of important culture parameters. In this work, we present a multiphysics computational model for the prediction of cartilage tissue growth in an interstitial perfusion bioreactor. The model consists of two separate sub-models, one two-dimensional (2D) sub-model and one three-dimensional (3D) sub-model, which are coupled between each other. These sub-models account both for the hydrodynamic microenvironment imposed by the bioreactor, using a model based on the Navier–Stokes equation, the mass transport equation and the biomass growth. The biomass, assumed as a phase comprising cells and the synthesised extracellular matrix, has been modelled by using a moving boundary approach. In particular, the boundary at the fluid–biomass interface is moving with a velocity depending from the local oxygen concentration and viscous stress. In this work, we show that all parameters predicted, such as oxygen concentration and wall shear stress, by the 2D sub-model with respect to the ones predicted by the 3D sub-model are systematically overestimated and thus the tissue growth, which directly depends on these parameters. This implies that further predictive models for tissue growth should take into account of the three dimensionality of the problem for any scaffold microarchitecture.     

Minimization of aggregation of secreted bivalent anti-human T cell immunotoxin in Pichia pastoris bioreactor culture by optimizing culture conditions for protein secretion

In a bioreactor culture of genetically engineered Pichia pastoris secreting a bivalent immunotoxin, 64% of the secreted immunotoxin was present in aggregate forms and this resulted in a loss of bioactivity. Biochemical analyses of the secreted immunotoxin and an in vitro aggregation study using purified monomeric immunotoxin suggested that aggregation was primarily an extracellular event. By employing limited methanol feeding at 0.75 mlmin(-1) per 10l initial medium, oxygen consumption was reduced, permitting a lowering of the bioreactor agitation speed from 800 to 400 rpm. By increasing the anti-foam reagent to 0.6 mll(-1), the thickness of the air/liquid interfacial foam layer was reduced by 80%. These steps reduced the immunotoxin aggregates from 64% to 5%. Consequently immunotoxin purification yield was increased from 53.0% to 73.8%. Simultaneously this methodology enhanced immunotoxin secretion to 120 mgl(-1) at 163 h of methanol induction in a toxin resistant production strain. We conclude that minimizing shearing force and reducing the air/liquid interfacial foam area are crucial factors in reducing hydrophobic protein aggregation upon secretory expression in yeast bioreactor cultures.     

Mathematical modeling of a horizontal tubular loop bioreactor for biomass production from natural gas

In this study, mathematical modeling of a horizontal tubular loop bioreactor (HTLB) was considered for biomass production from natural gas. Gas inlet segments, static mixers, gas–liquid separator, and liquid pump of the HTLB were mathematically modeled according to the ideal stirred reactors, and the horizontal parts, riser, and down-comer sections were modeled in line with the dispersed plug-flow reactors as well. The set of ordinary and partial differential equations were coupled to calculate the oxygen and methane concentrations in the liquid through the length of bioreactor and time. Moreover, the tuned kinetic and hydrodynamic parameters of SCP process in the HTLB were determined based on the mathematical model at various operational conditions. The model was validated by considering experimental dissolved oxygen, methane, and biomass concentrations in liquid at different ratios of air to methane and liquid flow rates. The results showed satisfactory agreement between the developed model and the experimental data.     

上海交通大学医学院附属新华医院崇明分院检验科

目的:探讨富血小板血浆(platelet-rich plasma,PRP)结合组织工程皮肤对裸鼠巨大创面修复的影响。方法:首先,利用密度梯度离心法制备富含生长因子的浓缩血小板的血浆,并测其所含生长因子的量;其次,在裸鼠的背侧部分构建大面积皮肤创面,分别用人工真皮,组织工程皮肤,碱性成纤维细胞生长因子组织工程皮肤,表皮生长因子组织工程皮肤和PRP结合组织工程皮肤修复裸鼠巨大创面;最后,手术后不同时间间隔收集组织标本,采用HE染色,PAS染色和免疫组化等方法评估创面愈合情况。结果:PRP结合组织工程皮肤组创面修复愈合情况最好。     

Design and performance of an α-type tubular photobioreactor for mass cultivation of microalgae

Ab α-shape tubular photobioreactor was designed and constructed based on knowledge of algal growth physiology using sunlight. The algal culture is lifted 5 m by air to a receiver tank. From the receiver tank, the culture flows down parallel polyvinyl-chloride tubes of 25 m length and 2.5 cm internal diameter, placed at an angle of 25 ° with the horizontal to reach another set of air riser tubes. Again the culture is lifted 5 m to another receiver tank, then flows down parallel tubes connected to the base of the first set of riser tubes. Thus, the bioreactor system looks like the symbol α. As there is no change in the direction of the liquid flow, high liquid flow rate and Reynolds Number can be achieved at relatively low air flow rate in the riser tubes. Due to the high area-volume ratio of the bioreactor, and equable photosynthetically available radiance and culture temperature, biomass density of exceeding 10 g dry weight L^-1 and daily output rate of 72 g dry weight m^-2 land d^-1 were achieved.     

Perfusion bioreactor system for human mesenchymal stem cell tissue engineering: dynamic cell seeding and construct development

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have great potential for therapeutic applications. A bioreactor system that supports long-term hMSCs growth and three-dimensional (3-D) tissue formation is an important technology for hMSC tissue engineering. A 3-D perfusion bioreactor system was designed using non-woven poly (ethylene terepthalate) (PET) fibrous matrices as scaffolds. The main features of the perfusion bioreactor system are its modular design and integrated seeding operation. Modular design of the bioreactor system allows the growth of multiple engineered tissue constructs and provides flexibility in harvesting the constructs at different time points. In this study, four chambers with three matrices in each were utilized for hMSC construct development. The dynamic depth filtration seeding operation is incorporated in the system by perfusing cell suspensions perpendicularly through the PET matrices, achieving a maximum seeding efficiency of 68%, and the operation effectively reduced the complexity of operation and the risk of contamination. Statistical analyses suggest that the cells are uniformly distributed in the matrices. After seeding, long-term construct cultivation was conducted by perfusing the media around the constructs from both sides of the matrices. Compared to the static cultures, a significantly higher cell density of 4.22 x 10(7) cell/mL was reached over a 40-day culture period. Cellular constructs at different positions in the flow chamber have statistically identical cell densities over the culture period. After expansion, the cells in the construct maintained the potential to differentiate into osteoblastic and adipogenic lineages at high cell density. The perfusion bioreactor system is amenable to multiple tissue engineered construct production, uniform tissue development, and yet is simple to operate and can be scaled up for potential clinical use. The results also demonstrate that the multi-lineage differentiation potential of hMSCs are preserved even after extensive expansion, thus indicating the potential of hMSCs for functional tissue construct development. The system has important applications in stem cell tissue engineering.     

Concentric cylinder bioreactor for production of tissue engineered cartilage: effect of seeding density and hydrodynamic loading on construct development

A concentric cylinder bioreactor has been developed to culture tissue engineered cartilage constructs under hydrodynamic loading. This bioreactor operates in a low shear stress environment, has a large growth area for construct production, allows for dynamic seeding of constructs, and provides for a uniform loading environment. Porous poly-lactic acid constructs, seeded dynamically in the bioreactor using isolated bovine chondrocytes, were cultured for 4 weeks at three seeding densities (60, 80, 100 x 10(6) cells per bioreactor) and three different shear stresses (imposed at 19, 38, and 76 rpm) to characterize the effect of chondrocyte density and hydrodynamic loading on construct growth. Construct seeding efficiency with chondrocytes is greater than 95% within 24 h. Extensive chondrocyte proliferation and matrix deposition are achieved so that after 28 days in culture, constructs from bioreactors seeded at the highest cell densities contain up to 15 x 10(6) cells, 2 mg GAG, and 3.5 mg collagen per construct and exhibit morphology similar to that of native cartilage. Bioreactors seeded with 60 million chondrocytes do not exhibit robust proliferation or matrix deposition and do not achieve morphology similar to that of native cartilage. In cultures under different steady hydrodynamic loading, the data demonstrate that higher shear stress suppresses matrix GAG deposition and encourages collagen incorporation. In contrast, under dynamic hydrodynamic loading conditions, cartilage constructs exhibit robust matrix collagen and GAG deposition. The data demonstrate that the concentric cylinder bioreactor provides a favorable hydrodynamic environment for cartilage construct growth and differentiation. Notably, construct matrix accumulation can be manipulated by hydrodynamic loading. This bioreactor is useful for fundamental studies of construct growth and to assess the significance of cell density, nutrients, and hydrodynamic loading on cartilage development. In addition, studies of cartilage tissue engineering in the well-characterized, uniform environment of the concentric cylinder bioreactor will develop important knowledge of bioprocessing parameters critical for large-scale production of engineered tissues.