Smooth muscle tissue engineering for hybrid tubular organs: scanning electron microscopic investigations of cell interactions with collagen scaffolds.
Tissue engineering of transplantable tubular tissue necessitates a composite approach to assembling the individual components. In the engineering of tubular structures (gastrointestinal, urogenital and vascular tissues) there is a demand for smooth muscle tissue in addition to the primary organ-specific tissue. This study aims to investigate the interaction of smooth muscle cells on bovine collagen scaffolds cross-linked with glutaraldehyde under in vitro conditions, using scanning electron microscopy. The density of tissue generated over the 8 week period was demonstrated in terms of: (a) scaffold coverage and attachment; (b) cell density; (c) cell viability deep inside the scaffolds; and (d) cell differentiation.
Kofler
Kristina
K
Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Leitinger
Gerd
G
Kristler
Michael
M
Saxena
Amulya K
AK
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering
D003094:Collagen