Cell Seeding on UV‐C‐Treated 3D Polymeric Templates Allows for Cost‐Effective Production of Small‐Caliber Tissue‐Engineered Blood Vessels

Abstract

There is a strong clinical need to develop small‐caliber tissue‐engineered blood vessels for arterial bypass surgeries. Such substitutes can be engineered using the self‐assembly approach in which cells produce their own extracellular matrix (ECM), creating a robust vessel without exogenous material. However, this approach is currently limited to the production of flat sheets that need to be further rolled into the final desired tubular shape. In this study, human fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells were seeded directly on UV‐C‐treated cylindrical polyethylene terephthalate glycol‐modified (PETG) mandrels of 4.8 mm diameter. UV‐C treatment induced surface modification, confirmed by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, was necessary to ensure proper cellular attachment and optimized ECM secretion/assembly. This novel approach generated solid tubular conduits with high level of cohesion between concentric cellular layers and enhanced cell‐driven circumferential alignment that can be manipulated after 21 days of culture. This simple and cost‐effective mandrel‐seeded approach also allowed for endothelialization of the construct and the production of perfusable trilayered tissue‐engineered blood vessels with a closed lumen. This study lays the foundation for a broad field of possible applications enabling custom‐made reconstructed tissues of specialized shapes using a surface treated 3D structure as a template for tissue engineering.

Moyamoya Disease Susceptibility Gene RNF213 Regulates Endothelial Barrier Function

“…This study was approved by the ethical research board of the CHU de Québec (Protocol number: 1115C & 1115D) and individuals were recruited on a voluntary basis following informed consent. Immortalized human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3) were purchased from Cedarlane Laboratories, human microvascular endothelial cells were obtained from foreskin dermis as described previously, 18 human umbilical vein endothelial cells were isolated from a human umbilical cord vein, 19 human fibroblasts were isolated following breast surgery, 1,9 and smooth muscle cells were isolated from a human umbilical cord vein. 19 Cells were grown in an incubator at 37 °C, 8% CO 2 and 95% relative humidity, and the culture medium was changed 3 times a week.…”

“…Immortalized human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3) were purchased from Cedarlane Laboratories, human microvascular endothelial cells were obtained from foreskin dermis as described previously, 18 human umbilical vein endothelial cells were isolated from a human umbilical cord vein, 19 human fibroblasts were isolated following breast surgery, 1,9 and smooth muscle cells were isolated from a human umbilical cord vein. 19 Cells were grown in an incubator at 37 °C, 8% CO 2 and 95% relative humidity, and the culture medium was changed 3 times a week. We also conducted experiments with hCMEC/D3 at a maximum passage of 35 to avoid genetic instability and endothelial cell markers loss.…”

Tissue Engineering for Gastrointestinal and Genitourinary Tracts

“…However, it could prove interesting as it has demonstrated its potential to produce well-organized epithelia when cells from the organ to be reconstructed are used. Moreover, this technique seems particularly suitable for reconstructing the esophagus, which presents essential similarities to those which have already been rebuilt [49,226,227]. This strategy is also interesting because it has demonstrated a strong potential to be prevascularized and thus allows rapid reconnection of the network of the graft to that of the host [228][229][230].…”

Human Organ-Specific 3D Cancer Models Produced by the Stromal Self-Assembly Method of Tissue Engineering for the Study of Solid Tumors

“…These cell sheets can be superimposed to generate thicker and planar mesenchymal tissue that can be cultured for several weeks. The self-assembly approach allows the reconstruction of tissues that are histologically and physiologically similar to their in vivo counterparts [91]. This method has been successfully used to reconstruct numerous human tissues such as blood vessels [91,92], bilayered skin [3], bladder [93], adipose tissue [94], heart valve [95], ureter [96], and cornea [97].…”

“…The self-assembly approach allows the reconstruction of tissues that are histologically and physiologically similar to their in vivo counterparts [91]. This method has been successfully used to reconstruct numerous human tissues such as blood vessels [91,92], bilayered skin [3], bladder [93], adipose tissue [94], heart valve [95], ureter [96], and cornea [97]. It also has been demonstrated that this technique allows to preserve subtle differences in native cells, such as receptor expression patterns, and reproduce pathologies, including psoriasis [98], fibrosis [99], amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [100], inflammation [101], and cancer [102,103].…”