Development of a Bioreactor to Culture Tissue Engineered Ureters Based on the Application of Tubular OPTIMAIX 3D Scaffolds

Abstract

Regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and biomedical research give hope to many patients who need bio-implants. Tissue engineering applications have already been developed based on bioreactors. Physiological ureter implants, however, do not still function sufficiently, as they represent tubular hollow structures with very specific cellular structures and alignments consisting of several cell types. The aim of this study was to a develop a new bioreactor system based on seamless, collagenous, tubular OPTIMAIX 3D prototype sponge as scaffold material for ex-vivo culturing of a tissue engineered ureter replacement for future urological applications. Particular emphasis was given to a great extent to mimic the physiological environment similar to the in vivo situation of a ureter. NIH-3T3 fibroblasts, C2C12, Urotsa and primary genitourinary tract cells were applied as co-cultures on the scaffold and the penetration of cells into the collagenous material was followed. By the end of this study, the bioreactor was functioning, physiological parameter as temperature and pH and the newly developed BIOREACTOR system is applicable to tubular scaffold materials with different lengths and diameters. The automatized incubation system worked reliably. The tubular OPTIMAIX 3D sponge was a suitable scaffold material for tissue engineering purposes and co-cultivation procedures.

Mechanical induction of bi-directional orientation of primary porcine bladder smooth muscle cells in tubular fibrin-poly(vinylidene fluoride) scaffolds for ureteral and urethral repair using cyclic and focal balloon catheter stimulation

“…The cultivation of these tubular biohybrids was performed in the automated bioreactor system presented previously by our group. 43 Smooth, increased and continuous tubular composite biohybrids can be reliably prepared that are useful for such applications in the bioreactor. 37,44,45…”

“…The cultivation of these tubular biohybrids was performed in the automated bioreactor system presented previously by our group. 43 Smooth, increased and continuous tubular composite biohybrids can be reliably prepared that are useful for such applications in the bioreactor. 37,44,45 In our case, the PVDF mesh was used on the inner surface in order to stabilise the tubular structure and to prevent any damage to the gel by the expansion and movement of the balloon attached to the kyphoplasty catheter, and it was clear that the mesh did not integrate into the wall.…”

Potential in two types of collagen scaffolds for urological tissue engineering applications – Are there differences in growth behaviour of juvenile and adult vesical cells?

“…Another important improvement would be training of the bioengineered construct of scaffold seeded with SMCs in a bioreactor. Seifarth et al 38 were able to show that training of muscle cells on a tubular scaffold would arrange the cells in a more physiological pattern, and Roby et al, 39 who were training SMCs in a 3D collagen gel, detected a higher a-SMA level compared to non-trained cell gel hybrids. Song et al 40 could even show an increased cell number, better mechanical properties and improved tensile strength when cultivating SMCs in a dynamic bioreactor.…”

“…Seifarth et al. 38 were able to show that training of muscle cells on a tubular scaffold would arrange the cells in a more physiological pattern, and Roby et al., 39 who were training SMCs in a 3D collagen gel, detected a higher α-SMA level compared to non-trained cell gel hybrids. Song et al.…”

Bladder Substitution: The Role of Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials

“…Regarding the setup, the proper bioreactor system should be adjustable to the specific scaffold geometries and should allow visual inspection from outside. The geometry should be as small as possible and a particular attention has to be paid for material choice that must be biocompatible, sterilizable/autoclavable, durable and dimensionally stable at the same time [61].…”