Enabling Sensor Technologies for the Quantitative Evaluation of Engineered Tissue

Abstract

Research in regenerative medicine has necessitated the need for advanced sensing technologies to monitor and evaluate the quality of engineered tissues. Several sensing schemes have been developed to sense specific analytes that enable researchers to assess tissue morphology, growth, and function. In addition to microscopy and staining techniques, tissue engineers are presented with an array of optical, chemical, and biological sensor technologies, which provide them with an opportunity to monitor variables, such as oxygen concentration, pH value, carbon dioxide, and glucose concentration in a noninvasive or minimally invasive manner. The article presents a short description on the core technologies and research reviews on the use of sensors employed in tissue engineering over the past decade. The article concludes by presenting some of the challenges to the further development of these technologies that are capable of real time measurement of tissue structure, composition, and function both for in-vitro and in-vivo analysis.

Model‐based cell number quantification using online single‐oxygen sensor data for tissue engineering perfusion bioreactors

“…This is attributed to the lack of robust bioprocess control in the closed system "black box" bioreactor . Multiple bioprocess monitoring techniques exist, primarily originating in the biopharmaceutical bioreactor industry, that can quantitatively measure physicochemical process parameters, such as temperature, pH, dissolved O 2 , glucose concentration, and metabolic activity (Bluma et al, 2011;Rolfe, 2006;Starly and Choubey, 2008;Ward et al, 2013;Zhou et al, 2013). However, a direct transfer of the biopharmaceutical monitoring and control strategies to TE bioreactors is not straightforward.…”

Real time in vitro measurement of oxygen uptake rates for HEPG2 liver cells encapsulated in alginate matrices

“…Although these assays provide a quantitative prediction of the concentration of the analyte, these techniques cannot be used over a continuous period on the same sample. Detailed reviews on the available real time sensor technologies have been published by the authors and others (Starly and Choubey 2007;Marazuela and Moreno-Bondi 2001).…”

Imaging of Cell‐to‐Material Interfaces by SEM after in situ Focused Ion Beam Milling on Flat Surfaces and Complex 3D‐Fibrous Structures

“…for optimal sensor functions. [6][7][8] As it is very difficult to predict how different cell types interact with newly designed material surfaces, it is crucial to investigate cell-to-material interfaces. These studies might be indicative for potential in vivo performance of a new implant.…”