Double Flow Bioreactor for In Vitro Test of Drug Delivery.
In this work, double-structured polymeric scaffolds were produced, and a double flow bioreactor was designed and set up in order to create a novel system to carry out advanced in vitro drug delivery tests. The scaffolds, consisting of a cylindrical porous matrix, are able to host cells, thus mimicking a three-dimensional tumor mass: moreover, a "pseudo-vascular" structure was embedded into the matrix, with the aim of allowing a flow circulation. The structure that emulates a blood vessel is a porous tubular-shaped scaffold prepared by Diffusion Induced Phase Separation (DIPS), with an internal lumen of 2 mm and a wall thickness of 200 micrometers. The as-prepared vessel was incorporated into a three-dimensional matrix, prepared by Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS), characterized by a high porosity (about 95%) and pore size adequate to accommodate tumor cells and/or mesenchymal cells. The morphology of the multifunctional scaffolds is easy-tunable in terms of pore size, porosity and thickness and therefore adaptable to various cell or tissue types. At the same time, a double flow bioreactor was designed and built up, in order to be able to carry out biological tests on the scaffold under dynamic conditions. The device allows a separate control of the two flows (one for the tubular scaffold, one for the porous matrix) through the scaffolds. Preliminary characterizations and tests carried out suggest the presented system as a candidate to suitably "in vitro" assess the effects of different drugs on various cell populations.
Department of Civil, Environmental, Aerospace and Materials Engineering (DICAM), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Francesco Carfì
FC
Pavia
Vincenzo
V
La Carrubba
Giulio
G
Ghersi
Silvia
S
Greco
Valerio
V
Brucato
D019149:Bioreactors; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D010316:Particle Size; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism*; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011108:Polymers
Bioreactor; Poly-L-Lactic acid; fluid dynamic; phase separation; shear stress; vascular tissue engineering