title: New pulsatile bioreactor for fabrication of tissue-engineered patches.
abstract: To date, one approach to tissue engineering has been to develop in vitro conditions to ultimately fabricate functional cardiovascular structures prior to final implantation. In our current experiment, we developed a new pulsatile flow system that provides biochemical and biomechanical signals to regulate autologous patch-tissue development in vitro. The newly developed patch bioreactor is made of Plexiglas and is completely transparent (Mediport Kardiotechnik, Berlin). The bioreactor is connected to an air-driven respirator pump, and the cell culture medium continuously circulates through a closed-loop system. We thus developed a closed-loop, perfused bioreactor for long-term patch-tissue conditioning, which combines continuous, pulsatile perfusion and mechanical stimulation by periodically stretching the tissue-engineered patch constructs. By adjusting the stroke volume, the stroke rate, and the inspiration/expiration time of the ventilator, it allows various pulsatile flows and different levels of pressure. The whole system is a highly isolated cell culture setting, which provides a high level of sterility, gas supply, and fits into a standard humidified incubator. The bioreactor can be sterilized by ethylene oxide and assembled with a standard screwdriver. Our newly developed bioreactor provides optimal biomechanical and biodynamical stimuli for controlled tissue development and in vitro conditioning of an autologous tissue-engineered patch.
authors: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Laboratory for Tissue Engineering, German Heart Institute Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany. sodian@dhzb.de
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Sodian
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Lemke
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Loebe
authors: S P
authors: SP
authors: Hoerstrup
authors: E V
authors: EV
authors: Potapov
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Hausmann
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Meyer
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Hetzer
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D019149:Bioreactors; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials