title: Fibrin as a cell carrier in cardiovascular tissue engineering applications.
abstract: In cardiovascular tissue engineering approaches, efficient seeding methods are essential. To achieve this and to save time, cells can be encapsulated in gels. Combining the advantages of a gel as a cell carrier with the advantages of a fiber-based scaffold, providing structural integrity to the developing tissue, might offer several advantages. In this study, seeding by using fibrin as a cell carrier is compared to the conventional static seeding method with regard to tissue development. Seeding with fibrin resulted in less loss of soluble collagen into the medium and a more mature extracellular matrix in a shorter period of time. The use of fibrin degradation inhibitors was shown to inhibit extracellular matrix formation, although it did not hamper cell proliferation. The use of fibrin as a cell carrier to seed cells into a fiber-based scaffold may represent a promising, timesaving approach in cardiovascular tissue engineering applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands. a.mol@tue.nl
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mol
authors.forename: Marjolein I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: van Lieshout
authors.forename: Christa G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Dam-de Veen
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neuenschwander
authors.forename: Simon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hoerstrup
authors.forename: Frank P T
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Baaijens
authors.forename: Carlijn V C
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Bouten
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005337:Fibrin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000166:cytology; D013997:Time Factors; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003470:Culture Media; D005337:Fibrin; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA; D006909:Hydroxyproline