Wir möchten die American Heart Association Mid-Atlantic Partner (0555407U, GLB) für die Finanzierung danken.

<ol><li> Vor Elektrospinnen, Kollagen, von 6 Monate Rinder Lederhaut, müssen extrahiert mit einer Basis von Essigsäure zu verarbeiten. Das extrahierte Kollagen wird dann durch eine anschließende Reihe von Auflösungen, Niederschläge und Dialysen gereinigt. Sobald Kollagen lyophilisiert ist, kann das Elektrospinnen zu beginnen. </li><li> Drei Materialien sind massierten: Polycaprolacton (PCL), Elastin (ELAS) und Kollagen (COL). Diese Materialien werden separat gelöst werden 1,1,1,3,3,3 Hexafluor-2-propanol (HFP, TCI America) in Konzentrationen von 100 mg / ml, 200 mg / ml und 70 mg / ml. </li><li> Die Materialien sind in fünf verschiedenen Szintillationsgefäße bei Volumenverhältnisse von 98-2-0 blended PCL-ELAS-COL (Intima), 45-45-10, 55-35-10, 65-25-10 und PCL-ELAS-COL (Medien) und 70-0-30 PCL-ELAS-COL (Adventitia). </li><li> Für einachsige Zug-Tests und einzelne Schicht Compliance-Tests wurde jede der Materialien individuell elektrogesponnenen, während mehrschichtige Gefäßprothesen für Burst, Naht Retention und Compliance-Tests aus einer 3 bis 1 Konfiguration elektrogesponnenen wurden. Einachsigen Zugversuch Gerüste wurden flach und rechteckig (2,5 cm breit x 10,2 cm lang x 0,3 cm dick), da die 2 mm Durchmesser Dorne verwendet, um einzelne Schichten und mehrschichtige Transplantate electrospin waren zu klein für Stanz-Proben. </li><li> Für Einzel-und Multi-Layer-Elektrospinnen wurden die Polymerlösungen in einen Kunststoff 3 ml Becton Dickinson Spritze mit einer 18-gage stumpfen Spitze Nadel geladen, und auf ein Spritzenpumpe mit einer Reihe Apotheke bewerten. Individuelle Elektrospinnen lagen bis 4 ml / h eingestellt, während mehrschichtige Elektrospinnen Preise wurden variiert je nach Übergangs-und Schicht. Flussraten und Volumina wurden als solche: die Intima war elektrogesponnenen mit einer Rate von 4 ml / h und einem Volumen von 0,5 ml durch einen Übergang Kombination beider Intima und medialen Spritzen für 0,2 ml bei 2 ml / h jeweils gefolgt. Die Intima-Spritze wurde dann abgeschaltet und die mediale Schicht wurde für 0,6 ml bei 4 Spin ml / h, gefolgt von einem Übergang zwischen der Media und Adventitia für 0,2 ml Polymerlösung bei 2 ml / h je. Schließlich wurde den Medien gestoppt und die Adventitia durfte für 0,4 ml auf 4 ml / h drehen. </li><li> Alle Proben wurden in 50 mM EDC für 18 Stunden vor jedem Test 1 vernetzt. </li><li> Einachsigen Zugversuch wurde auf sechs Proben von einem elektrogesponnenen Blatt hydratisiert in PBS für 24 Stunden durchgeführt. &quot;Dog-Bone&quot;-förmigen Proben wurden von elektrogesponnenen Matten ausgestanzt und getestet auf einem MTS Bionix 200 Test-System mit einem 100 N Wägezelle und einer Zuggeschwindigkeit von 10,0 mm / min. Peak-Stress, Modul und Bruchdehnung wurden mit TestWorks Version 4. </li><li> Suture Retention Test wurde auf sechs 2 mm Innendurchmesser röhrenförmigen Proben aus sechs verschiedenen elektrogesponnenen Transplantate, in PBS für 24 Stunden eingeweicht bei 37 ° C, auf einem MTS Bionix 200 Test-System mit einer 50 N Lastzelle (MTS Systems Corp) und durchgeführt eine Erweiterung von 150,0 mm / min in Übereinstimmung mit den quer über Verfahren in der American National Standards Institute 2 beschrieben. 5-0 kommerziellen PDS II violett monofilen Naht wurde 2 mm vom Ende der Probe angeordnet und erweitert, bis der Faden durch das Transplantat gezogen hatte. Spitzenlast wurde in Gramm-Kraft aufgezeichnet mit TestWorks Version 4. </li><li> Berstfestigkeit Tests wurden auf sechs Proben aus sechs verschiedenen elektrogesponnenen Transplantate durchgeführt. Burst Rohre, 2-3 cm lang, wurden hydratisiert in PBS, Einbauküche über 1,5 mm Durchmesser Nippel befestigt, um das Gerät und sicherte sich mit 2-0 Seidenfaden. Luft wurde in das System eingeführt, wodurch der Druck mit einer Rate von 5 mmHg / s, bis die Rohre platzen 2. Die Ergebnisse werden als der Druck in mmHg, bei der Rohre gebrochen gemeldet. </li><li> Dynamische Compliance wurde für sechs 2 mm Innendurchmesser röhrenförmige Transplantate aus sechs verschiedenen elektrogesponnenen Transplantate bei einer Länge von 3 cm unter simulierten physiologischen Bedingungen entnommen wird. Beide einzelnen Schichten und vielschichtigen röhrenförmigen Konstrukte wurden elektrogesponnenen und unter den gleichen Bedingungen getestet. Die Proben wurden in einem intelligenten Tissue Engineering über mechanische Stimulation (ITEMS) Bioreaktor durch Tissue Growth Technologies mit PBS bei 37 ° C gefüllt entwickelte getestet Der Bioreaktor bot eine 1Hz zyklische Druckänderung an der Innenseite des Transplantats, wo drei verschiedenen Druckniveaus von 90/50, 120/80 und 150/110 mmHg systolisch / diastolisch 2 untersucht wurden, 3. </li></ol> Repräsentative Ergebnisse Wenn das Elektrospinnen Protokolle ordnungsgemäß durchgeführt werden, sollte das Endprodukt mit einem weichen, nahtlosen Rohren ohne erste Anzeichen einer Delamination zwischen den Schichten sein. Wenn die einachsigen Zugversuche, Berstfestigkeit Tests Naht Retentionsversuche-und Compliance-Tests durchgeführt werden, sollten die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die mediale Schicht Steifigkeit erhöht, mit einer verminderten Mengen an Elastin, die damit verbundenen mechanischen Eigenschaften sollte ein steifer Schlauch zu demonstrieren.

<ol>
	<li>McClure, M. J., Sell, S. A., Barnes, C. P., Bowen, W. C., Bowlin, G. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cross-linking+Electrospun+Polydioxanone-Soluble+Elastin+Blends:+Material+Characterization.">Cross-linking Electrospun Polydioxanone-Soluble Elastin Blends: Material Characterization.</a> Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics. 3, 1-10 (2008).</li><li>. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Cardiovascular implants - Vascular graft protheses. VP20, (1994).</li><li>McClure, M. J., Sell, S. A., Simpson, D. G., Walpoth, B. H., Bowlin, G. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+three-layered+electrospun+matrix+to+mimic+native+arterial+architecture+using+polycaprolactone,+elastin,+and+collagen:+A+preliminary+study.">A three-layered electrospun matrix to mimic native arterial architecture using polycaprolactone, elastin, and collagen: A preliminary study.</a> Acta Biomater. , (2010).</li></ol>

Mehrere Autoren haben Vereinigten Staaten und internationale Patente angemeldet bezüglich Technologie in diesem Manuskript vorgestellt und diese Technologie hat Organogenesis, Inc. lizenziert

Der kritischste Teil dieser Studie ist die Elektrospinnverfahren. Bei der Verwendung von einem 3:1-Input-Output-Düse, Wölbung und Ladung auftreten kann. Wenn dies eintritt, wird die Spannung mit dem Polymer, das sich dreht damit verbundene Abnahme verursacht geschweißt, &quot;wet&quot;-Fasern und die Schaffung von Delamination zwischen jeder der drei Schichten. Daher sind einheitliche elektrische Potentiale wichtig, eine ideale mehrschichtigen Rohr zu erhalten. Compliance-Mismatch ist ein...

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		<div>
		<table border="1">
		<thead>
		<tr>
		<th>Material Name</th>
		<th>Type</th>
		<th>Company</th>
		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
		</tr>
		</thead>
		<tbody>
		
<tr>
<td>Polycaprolactone</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Elastin</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Elastin Products Company</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Collagen</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Acetic Acid</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fisher</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Sodium Chloride</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fisher</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>TRIS</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fisher</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>6 L Avanti J-HC Centrifuge</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoro-2-propanol</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>TCI America</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>3 ml Becton Dickinson Syringe</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>CZE1000R Rack Mount Power Supply</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Spellman</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>High-Pressure Syringe Pump</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Cole Parmer</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Pierce</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>70 % ethanol</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>ImageTool 3.0 software</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Shareware provided by UTHSCSA</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Scanning Electron Microscope</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Zeiss EV050</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>MTS Bionix 200 testing system</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>MTS Systems Corp.</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>TestWorks version 4</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Intelligent Tissue Engineering via Mechanical Stimulation (ITEMS) Bioreactor</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Tissue Growth Technologies</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>		</tbody>
		</table>
		</div>

tri-layered electrospinning to mimic native arterial architecture using polycaprolactone, elastin, and collagen: a preliminary study

Während nativen Arterie, spielen Kollagen und Elastin eine wichtige Rolle, eine mechanische Rückgrat, verhindert Behälterbruch und die Förderung der Verwertung unter pulsatile Verformungen. Das Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Struktur der nativen Arterie durch die Herstellung eines mehrschichtigen elektrogesponnenen Leitung von Poly (caprolacton) (PCL) mit dem Zusatz von Elastin und Kollagen mit Mischungen von 45-45-10, 55-35 komponiert imitieren - 10 und 65-25-10 PCL-ELAS-COL zeigen mechanischen Eigenschaften Richtwerte der einheimischen Arteriengewebes, während verbleibenden förderlich für die Geweberegeneration. Whole Transplantate und einzelnen Schichten wurden mit einachsigen Zugversuch, dynamischen Compliance, Naht-bindung und Berstfestigkeit. Compliance-Ergebnisse zeigten, dass Änderungen an der mittleren / medial Schicht insgesamt Transplantat Verhalten gesamte Transplantat Compliance-Werte von 0,8 verändert - 2,8% / 100 mmHg, während einachsigen Ergebnisse zeigten eine durchschnittliche Modulbereich von 2,0 bis 11,8 MPa. Beide E-Modul und Compliance-Daten angezeigten Werte im Bereich von nativen Arterie. Mathematische Modellierung wurde implementiert, um zu zeigen, wie Veränderungen in der Schicht Steifigkeit der gesamten umlaufenden Wand Stress beeinflussen, und als Design-Hilfe für die beste mechanische Kombination von Materialien zu erreichen. Insgesamt zeigten die Ergebnisse, dass ein Transplantat entwickelt werden, um ein Tri-Schichtstruktur durch Änderung Layer-Eigenschaften zu imitieren.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Tri-layered Electrospinning to Mimic Native Arterial Architecture using Polycaprolactone, Elastin, and Collagen: A Preliminary Study at JoVE.com

Tri-layered Electrospinning to Mimic Native Arterial Architecture using Polycaprolactone, Elastin, and Collagen: A Preliminary Study

Das Ziel dieser Studie war es, die einheimische dreischichtige Architektur der Arterienwand zu imitieren. Um dies zu erreichen, wurde Elektrospinnen mit der Verwendung eines 3-1 (Eingang-Ausgang) Düse eingesetzt und Mischungen von Polycaprolacton, Elastin und Kollagen.

Tri-geschichteten Elektrospinnen zu Native Arterielle Architektur mit Polycaprolacton, Elastin und Collagen Mimic: A Preliminary Study

Throughout native artery, collagen and elastin play an important role, providing a mechanical backbone, preventing vessel rupture, and promoting recovery ...

tri-layered-electrospinning-to-mimic-native-arterial-architecture

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

12.8K Aufrufe.  Virginia Commonwealth University. Das Ziel dieser Studie war es, die einheimische dreischichtige Architektur der Arterienwand zu imitieren. Um dies zu erreichen, wurde Elektrospinnen mit der Verwendung eines 3-1 (Eingang-Ausgang) Düse eingesetzt und Mischungen von Polycaprolacton, Elastin und Kollagen.

Serie: Tri-layered Electrospinning to Mimic Native Arterial Architecture using Polycaprolactone, Elastin, and Collagen: A Preliminary Study

Design of a Cyclic Pressure Bioreactor for the Ex Vivo Study of Aortic Heart Valves

The aortic valve, located between the left ventricle and the aorta, allows for unidirectional blood flow, preventing backflow into the ventricle. Aortic valve leaflets are composed of interstitial cells suspended within an extracellular matrix (ECM) and are lined with an endothelial cell monolayer. The valve withstands a harsh, dynamic environment and is constantly exposed to shear, flexion, tension, and compression. Research has shown calcific lesions in diseased valves occur in areas of high mechanical stress as a result of endothelial disruption or interstitial matrix damage1-3. Hence, it is not surprising that epidemiological studies have shown high blood pressure to be a leading risk factor in the onset of aortic valve disease4. 
The only treatment option currently available for valve disease is surgical replacement of the diseased valve with a bioprosthetic or mechanical valve5. Improved understanding of valve biology in response to physical stresses would help elucidate the mechanisms of valve pathogenesis. In turn, this could help in the development of non-invasive therapies such as pharmaceutical intervention or prevention. Several bioreactors have been previously developed to study the mechanobiology of native or engineered heart valves6-9. Pulsatile bioreactors have also been developed to study a range of tissues including cartilage10, bone11 and bladder12. The aim of this work was to develop a cyclic pressure system that could be used to elucidate the biological response of aortic valve leaflets to increased pressure loads. 
The system consisted of an acrylic chamber in which to place samples and produce cyclic pressure, viton diaphragm solenoid valves to control the timing of the pressure cycle, and a computer to control electrical devices. The pressure was monitored using a pressure transducer, and the signal was conditioned using a load cell conditioner. A LabVIEW program regulated the pressure using an analog device to pump compressed air into the system at the appropriate rate. The system mimicked the dynamic transvalvular pressure levels associated with the aortic valve; a saw tooth wave produced a gradual increase in pressure, typical of the transvalvular pressure gradient that is present across the valve during diastole, followed by a sharp pressure drop depicting valve opening in systole. The LabVIEW program allowed users to control the magnitude and frequency of cyclic pressure. The system was able to subject tissue samples to physiological and pathological pressure conditions. This device can be used to increase our understanding of how heart valves respond to changes in the local mechanical environment.

Design of a Cyclic Pressure Bioreactor for the Ex Vivo Study of Aortic Heart Valves

A cyclic pressure bioreactor capable of subjecting heart valve tissue to physiological and pathological pressure conditions has been designed. A LabVIEW program allows users to control pressure magnitude, amplitude and frequency. This device can be used to study the mechanobiology of heart valve tissue or isolated cells.

Entwurf eines zyklischen Druck Bioreaktor für die Ex Vivo Studium der Aorten-Herzklappen

The aortic valve, located between the left ventricle and the aorta, allows for unidirectional blood flow, preventing backflow into the ventricle. Aortic ...

Forschung

Biotechnik

In vitro Synthesis of Native, Fibrous Long Spacing and Segmental Long Spacing Collagen

Collagen fibrils are present in the extracellular matrix of animal tissue to provide structural scaffolding and mechanical strength. These native collagen fibrils have a characteristic banding periodicity of ~67 nm and are formed in vivo through the hierarchical assembly of Type I collagen monomers, which are 300 nm in length and 1.4 nm in diameter. In vitro, by varying the conditions to which the monomer building blocks are exposed, unique structures ranging in length scales up to 50 microns can be constructed, including not only native type fibrils, but also fibrous long spacing and segmental long spacing collagen. Herein, we present procedures for forming the three different collagen structures from a common commercially available collagen monomer. Using the protocols that we and others have published in the past to make these three types typically lead to mixtures of structures. In particular, unbanded fibrils were commonly found when making native collagen, and native fibrils were often present when making fibrous long spacing collagen. These new procedures have the advantage of producing the desired collagen fibril type almost exclusively. The formation of the desired structures is verified by imaging using an atomic force microscope.

In vitro Synthesis of Native, Fibrous Long Spacing and Segmental Long Spacing Collagen

Simple and reproducible procedures are described for making three structurally distinct collagen assemblies from a common commercially available Type I collagen monomer. Native type, fibrous long spacing or segmental long spacing collagen can be constructed by varying the conditions to which the 300 nm long and 1.4 nm diameter monomer building block is exposed.

In vitro Synthese von Native, Fibröse Lange Abstände und Segmentberichterstattung Lange Spacing Collagen

Collagen fibrils are present in the  extracellular matrix of animal tissue to provide structural scaffolding and  mechanical strength. These native ...

An Improved Method for the Preparation of Type I Collagen From Skin

Soluble type 1 collagen (COL1) is used extensively as an adhesive substrate for cell cultures and as a cellular scaffold for regenerative applications. Clinically, this protein is widely used for cosmetic surgery, dermal injections, bone grafting, and reconstructive surgery. The sources of COL1 for these procedures are commonly nonhuman, which increases the potential for inflammation and rejection as well as xenobiotic disease transmission. In view of this, a method to efficiently and quickly purify COL1 from limited quantities of autologously-derived tissues would circumvent many of these issues; however, standard isolation protocols are lengthy and often require large quantities of collagenous tissues. Here, we demonstrate an efficient COL1 extraction method that reduces the time needed to isolate and purify this protein from about 10 days to less than 3 hr. We chose the dermis as our tissue source because of its availability during many surgical procedures. This method uses traditional extraction buffers combined with forceful agitation and centrifugal filtration to obtain highly-pure, soluble COL1 from small amounts of corium. Briefly, dermal biopsies are washed thoroughly in ice-cold dH2O after removing fat, connective tissue, and hair. The skin samples are stripped of noncollagenous proteins and polysaccharides using 0.5 M sodium acetate and a high speed bench-top homogenizer. Collagen from residual solids is subsequently extracted with a 0.075 M sodium citrate buffer using the homogenizer. These extracts are purified using 100,000 MW cut-off centrifugal filters that yield COL1 preparations of comparable or superior quality to commercial products or those obtained using traditional procedures. We anticipate this method will facilitate the utilization of autologously-derived COL1 for a multitude of research and clinical applications.

Traditional procedures for the isolation of soluble type 1 collagen (COL1) require about 10 days from start to finish because of lengthy buffer incubations and laborious resuspensions of fibrils. Here, we describe a means to purify COL1 from small dermal biopsies in less than 3 hr.

Ein verbessertes Verfahren zur Herstellung von Typ I-Kollagen aus der Haut

Soluble type 1 collagen (COL1) is used extensively as an adhesive substrate for cell cultures and as a cellular scaffold for regenerative applications. ...

Imaging Denatured Collagen Strands In vivo and Ex vivo via Photo-triggered Hybridization of Caged Collagen Mimetic Peptides

Collagen is a major structural component of the extracellular matrix that supports tissue formation and maintenance. Although collagen remodeling is an integral part of normal tissue renewal, excessive amount of remodeling activity is involved in tumors, arthritis, and many other pathological conditions. During collagen remodeling, the triple helical structure of collagen molecules is disrupted by proteases in the extracellular environment. In addition, collagens present in many histological tissue samples are partially denatured by the fixation and preservation processes. Therefore, these denatured collagen strands can serve as effective targets for biological imaging. We previously developed a caged collagen mimetic peptide (CMP) that can be photo-triggered to hybridize with denatured collagen strands by forming triple helical structure, which is unique to collagens. The overall goals of this procedure are i)&#160;to image denatured collagen strands resulting from normal remodeling activities in vivo, and ii) to visualize collagens in ex vivo tissue sections using the photo-triggered caged CMPs. To achieve effective hybridization and successful in vivo and ex vivo imaging, fluorescently labeled caged CMPs are either photo-activated immediately before intravenous injection, or are directly activated on tissue sections. Normal skeletal collagen remolding in nude mice and collagens in prefixed mouse cornea tissue sections are imaged in this procedure. The imaging method based on the CMP-collagen hybridization technology presented here could lead to deeper understanding of the tissue remodeling process, as well as allow development of new diagnostics for diseases associated with high collagen remodeling activity.

Imaging Denatured Collagen Strands In vivo and Ex vivo via Photo-triggered Hybridization of Caged Collagen Mimetic Peptides

This procedure demonstrates in vivo near IR fluorescence imaging of collagen remodeling activities in mice as well as ex vivo staining of collagens in tissue sections using caged collagen mimetic peptides that can be photo-triggered to hybridize with denatured collagen strands.

Imaging denaturierten Kollagen-Stränge<em&gt; In-vivo-</em&gt; Und<em&gt; Ex-vivo-</em&gt; Über die Photo-ausgelöst Hybridisierung von Caged Collagen mimetischen Peptiden

Collagen is a major structural component of the extracellular matrix that supports tissue formation and maintenance. Although collagen remodeling is an ...

Combination of Microstereolithography and Electrospinning to Produce Membranes Equipped with Niches for Corneal Regeneration

Corneal problems affect millions of people worldwide reducing their quality of life significantly. Corneal disease can be caused by illnesses such as Aniridia or Steven Johnson Syndrome as well as by external factors such as chemical burns or radiation. Current treatments are (i) the use of corneal grafts and (ii) the use of stem cell expanded in the laboratory and delivered on carriers (e.g., amniotic membrane); these treatments are relatively successful but unfortunately they can fail after 3-5 years. There is a need to design and manufacture new corneal biomaterial devices able to mimic in detail the physiological environment where stem cells reside in the cornea. Limbal stem cells are located in the limbus (circular area between cornea and sclera) in specific niches known as the Palisades of Vogt. In this work we have developed a new platform technology which combines two cutting-edge manufacturing techniques (microstereolithography and electrospinning) for the fabrication of corneal membranes that mimic to a certain extent the limbus. Our membranes contain artificial micropockets which aim to provide cells with protection as the Palisades of Vogt do in the eye.

We report a technique for the fabrication of micropockets within electrospun membranes in which to study cell behavior. Specifically, we describe a combination of microstereolithography and electrospinning for the production of PLGA (Poly(lactide-co-glycolide)) corneal biomaterial devices equipped with microfeatures.

Kombination von Mikrostereolithographie und Elektrospinnen auf Membranen Ausgestattet mit Nischen für die Hornhautregeneration Produzieren

Corneal problems affect millions of people worldwide reducing their quality of life significantly. Corneal disease can be caused by illnesses such as ...

Planar Gradient Diffusion System to Investigate Chemotaxis in a 3D Collagen Matrix

The importance of cell migration can be seen through the development of human life. When cells migrate, they generate forces and transfer these forces to their surrounding area, leading to cell movement and migration. In order to understand the mechanisms that can alter and/or affect cell migration, one can study these forces. In theory, understanding the fundamental mechanisms and forces underlying cell migration holds the promise of effective approaches for treating diseases and promoting cellular transplantation. Unfortunately, modern chemotaxis chambers that have been developed are usually restricted to two dimensions (2D) and have complex diffusion gradients that make the experiment difficult to interpret. To this end, we have developed, and describe in this paper, a direct-viewing chamber for chemotaxis studies, which allows one to overcome modern chemotaxis chamber obstacles able to measure cell forces and specific concentration within the chamber in a 3D environment to study cell 3D migration. More compelling, this approach allows one to successfully model diffusion through 3D collagen matrices and calculate the coefficient of diffusion of a chemoattractant through multiple different concentrations of collagen, while keeping the system simple and user friendly for traction force microscopy (TFM) and digital volume correlation (DVC) analysis.

Cell migration is an important part of human development and life. In order to understand the mechanisms that can alter cell migration, we present a planar gradient diffusion system to investigate chemotaxis in a 3D collagen matrix, which allows one to overcome modern diffusion chamber limitations of existing assays.

Planar Gradient Diffusionssystem, um Chemotaxis in einem 3D-Kollagen-Matrix Untersuchen

The importance of cell migration can be seen through the development of human life. When cells migrate, they generate forces and transfer these forces to ...

Adapting the Electrospinning Process to Provide Three Unique Environments for a Tri-layered In Vitro Model of the Airway Wall

Electrospinning is a highly adaptable method producing porous 3D fibrous scaffolds that can be exploited in in vitro cell culture. Alterations to intrinsic parameters within the process allow a high degree of control over scaffold characteristics including fiber diameter, alignment and porosity. By developing scaffolds with similar dimensions and topographies to organ- or tissue-specific extracellular matrices (ECM), micro-environments representative to those that cells are exposed to in situ can be created. 
The airway bronchiole wall, comprised of three main micro-environments, was selected as a model tissue. Using decellularized airway ECM as a guide, we electrospun the non-degradable polymer, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), by three different protocols to produce three individual electrospun scaffolds optimized for epithelial, fibroblast or smooth muscle cell-culture. Using a commercially available bioreactor system, we stably co-cultured the three cell-types to provide an in vitro model of the airway wall over an extended time period.
This model highlights the potential for such methods being employed in in vitro diagnostic studies investigating important inter-cellular cross-talk mechanisms or assessing novel pharmaceutical targets, by providing a relevant platform to allow the culture of fully differentiated adult cells within 3D, tissue-specific environments.

Adapting the Electrospinning Process to Provide Three Unique Environments for a Tri-layered In Vitro Model of the Airway Wall

Advancements in biomaterial technologies enable the development of three-dimensional multi-cell-type constructs. We have developed electrospinning protocols to produce three individual scaffolds to culture the main structural cells of the airway to provide a 3D in vitro model of the airway bronchiole wall.

Anpassung der Elektrospinnverfahren für einen Dreischicht stellen drei einzigartige Umgebungen<em&gt; In-vitro-</em&gt; Modell der Atemwegswand

Electrospinning is a highly adaptable method producing porous 3D fibrous scaffolds that can be exploited in in vitro cell culture. Alterations to ...

Preparation of 3D Collagen Gels and Microchannels for the Study of 3D Interactions In Vivo

Historically, most cellular processes have been studied in only 2 dimensions. While these studies have been informative about general cell signaling mechanisms, they neglect important cellular cues received from the structural and mechanical properties of the local microenvironment and extracellular matrix (ECM). To understand how cells interact within a physiological ECM, it is important to study them in the context of 3 dimensional assays. Cell migration, cell differentiation, and cell proliferation are only a few processes that have been shown to be impacted by local changes in the mechanical properties of a 3-dimensional ECM. Collagen I, a core fibrillar component of the ECM, is more than a simple structural element of a tissue. Under normal conditions, mechanical cues from the collagen network direct morphogenesis and maintain cellular structures. In diseased microenvironments, such as the tumor microenvironment, the collagen network is often dramatically remodeled, demonstrating altered composition, enhanced deposition and altered fiber organization. In breast cancer, the degree of fiber alignment is important, as an increase in aligned fibers perpendicular to the tumor boundary has been correlated to poorer patient prognosis1. Aligned collagen matrices result in increased dissemination of tumor cells via persistent migration2,3. The following is a simple protocol for embedding cells within a 3-dimensional, fibrillar collagen hydrogel. This protocol is readily adaptable to many platforms, and can reproducibly generate both aligned and random collagen matrices for investigation of cell migration, cell division, and other cellular processes in a tunable, 3-dimensional, physiological microenvironment.

Preparation of 3D Collagen Gels and Microchannels for the Study of 3D Interactions In Vivo

Collagen is a core component of the ECM, and provides essential cues for several cellular processes ranging from migration to differentiation and proliferation. Provided here is a protocol for embedding cells within 3D collagen hydrogels, and a more advanced technique for generating randomized or aligned collagen matrices using PDMS microchannels.

Herstellung von 3D-Kollagen-Gel und Mikrokanäle für das Studium der 3D-Interaktionen<em&gt; In Vivo</em

Historically, most cellular processes have been studied in only 2 dimensions.  While these studies have been informative about general cell signaling ...

Melt Electrospinning Writing of Three-dimensional Poly(&#949;-caprolactone) Scaffolds with Controllable Morphologies for Tissue Engineering Applications

This tutorial reflects on the fundamental principles and guidelines for electrospinning writing with polymer melts, an additive manufacturing technology with great potential for biomedical applications. The technique facilitates the direct deposition of biocompatible polymer fibers to fabricate well-ordered scaffolds in the sub-micron to micro scale range. The establishment of a stable, viscoelastic, polymer jet between a spinneret and a collector is achieved using an applied voltage and can be direct-written. A significant benefit of a typical porous scaffold is a high surface-to-volume ratio which provides increased effective adhesion sites for cell attachment and growth. Controlling the printing process by fine-tuning the system parameters enables high reproducibility in the quality of the printed scaffolds. It also provides a flexible manufacturing platform for users to tailor the morphological structures of the scaffolds to their specific requirements. For this purpose, we present a protocol to obtain different fiber diameters using melt electrospinning writing (MEW) with a guided amendment of the parameters, including flow rate, voltage and collection speed. Furthermore, we demonstrate how to optimize the jet, discuss often experienced technical challenges, explain troubleshooting techniques and showcase a wide range of printable scaffold architectures.

Melt Electrospinning Writing of Three-dimensional Poly(&amp;#949;-caprolactone) Scaffolds with Controllable Morphologies for Tissue Engineering Applications

This protocol serves as a comprehensive guideline to fabricate scaffolds via electrospinning with polymer melts in a direct writing mode. We systematically outline the process and define the appropriate parameter settings for achieving targeted scaffold architectures.

Elektrospinnen Schreiben von dreidimensionalen Poly(ε-caprolactone) Gerüste mit steuerbaren Morphologien für Tissue Engineering Anwendungen zu schmelzen

This tutorial reflects on the fundamental principles and guidelines for electrospinning writing with polymer melts, an additive manufacturing technology ...

Creating a Structurally Realistic Finite Element Geometric Model of a Cardiomyocyte to Study the Role of Cellular Architecture in Cardiomyocyte Systems Biology

With the advent of three-dimensional (3D) imaging technologies such as electron tomography, serial-block-face scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy, the scientific community has unprecedented access to large datasets at sub-micrometer resolution that characterize the architectural remodeling that accompanies changes in cardiomyocyte function in health and disease. However, these datasets have been under-utilized for&#160;investigating the role of cellular architecture remodeling in cardiomyocyte function. The purpose of this protocol is to outline how to create an accurate finite element model of a cardiomyocyte using high resolution electron microscopy and confocal microscopy images. A detailed and accurate model of cellular architecture has significant potential to provide new insights into cardiomyocyte biology, more than experiments alone can garner. The power of this method lies in its ability to computationally fuse information from two disparate imaging modalities of cardiomyocyte ultrastructure to develop one unified and detailed model of the cardiomyocyte. This protocol outlines steps to integrate electron tomography and confocal microscopy images of adult male Wistar (name for a specific breed of albino rat) rat cardiomyocytes to develop a half-sarcomere finite element model of the cardiomyocyte. The procedure generates a 3D finite element model that contains an accurate, high-resolution depiction (on the order of ~35 nm) of the distribution of mitochondria, myofibrils and ryanodine receptor clusters that release the necessary calcium for cardiomyocyte contraction from the sarcoplasmic reticular network (SR) into the myofibril and cytosolic compartment. The model generated here as an illustration does not incorporate details of the transverse-tubule architecture or the sarcoplasmic reticular network and is therefore a minimal model of the cardiomyocyte. Nevertheless, the model can already be applied in simulation-based investigations into the role of cell structure in calcium signaling and mitochondrial bioenergetics, which is illustrated and discussed using two case studies that are presented following the detailed protocol.

This protocol outlines a novel method to create a spatially detailed finite element model of the intracellular architecture of cardiomyocytes from electron microscopy and confocal microscopy images. The power of this spatially detailed model is demonstrated using case studies in calcium signaling and bioenergetics.

Erstellen eines strukturell realistische Finite-Elemente geometrischen Modells von einer Cardiomyocyte zur Untersuchung der Rolle von zellulären Architektur in Cardiomyocyte Systembiologie

With the advent of three-dimensional (3D) imaging technologies such as electron tomography, serial-block-face scanning electron microscopy and confocal ...