title: Automated production of cultured epidermal autografts and sub-confluent epidermal autografts in a computer controlled bioreactor.
abstract: The objective of this work was to engineer an automated system for the production of cultured epidermal autografts and sub-confluent cultured epidermal autografts. Human epidermal cells were grown directly on a transparent FEP film, which was held in place and surrounded by a polycarbonate growth chamber. The growth chambers were stacked to accommodate various surface area requirements. To monitor the development of the grafts, the upper-most growth chamber in the stack was periodically placed on a standard phase contrast microscope. The growth chambers were connected to a multi-channel peristaltic pump, which was controlled automatically to manage fluid-handling operations. Sub-confluent graft production involved removing the epidermal-film composite from the growth chambers and cutting desired graft geometries. Producing cultured epidermal autografts involved (1) removing the confluent epidermal-film composite from the growth chambers, (2) treating the composites with dispase, and (3) clipping the detached cultured epidermis to a synthetic support. Twelve to fifteen days were required to produce sub-confluent grafts (total surface area 3500-4500 cm2 50% confluent) and 18 to 24 d were required to produce standard cultured epidermal autografts (total surface area 3500-4500 cm2). The system reduces the tedious manual labor associated with producing cultured epidermal autografts.
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, ETHZ, Zurich, Switzerland CH-8092, USA.
authors: J E
authors: JE
authors: Prenosil
authors: P E
authors: PE
authors: Villeneuve
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D012984:Software; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide