There are medical needs that must be addressed by regenerative technologies including heart failure, diabetes, liver failure, osteoporosis, Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases, severe burns, spinal cord and nerve injuries. New therapeutic areas especially the development of neo-organs with complex three-dimensional structure may offer new solution to tissue loss or organ failure. Cell transplantation is primarily useful for replacing small areas of tissue. Bioartificial homologues are necessary to replace larger tissue areas or whole organs. For the biofabrication of an organ or tissue is required a biomimetic approach that utilizes expandable cells, a cell-affinity biomaterial that serves as scaffold and an optimal bioreactor. Micro- and nano-structured membrane bioartificial systems consisting of functional cells and polymeric membranes can be used for the reconstruction of tissue analogous because of the high control at molecular level of cell microenvironment. These artificial systems compartmentalize cells in micro and nanostructured complexes providing a wide surface area for the cell adhesion and ensuring a continuous and selective transport of nutrients and metabolites to and from cells. Membrane systems are able to create a biomimetic environment with highly selective and specific physico-chemical, morphological and transport properties. Tailor-made membranes (organic, functionalized with specific biomolecules, in flat and hollow-fiber configurations), designed and operated according to well-defined engineering criteria are able to sustain specific biotransformations, to provide adequate transport of oxygen, nutrients and catabolites throughout the cellular compartment, and to supply appropriate biomechanical stimuli of the developing tissue. In this paper the authors show the development of engineered membrane constructs by using isolated cells (e.g., liver cells, progenitor cells, neuronal cells, endothelial cells) or spheroids microtissues. Membranes with specific physico-chemical, morphological and transport properties would be able to modulate the adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of cells, which are fundamental processes for tissue regeneration by governing the mass transfer of molecules that generate a precisely controlled microenvironment that mimic the specific features of in vivo environment. Attempt to engineering biological tissues in vitro have been pursued by applying novel concepts of bioreactor design and membranes to enhance the ability to trigger biological signals that promote the morphogenesis of tissue. Membrane systems aimed at expanding and directing the differentiation of stem cells or progenitor cells will be presented. This approach allows the realization of microtissues inducing self-assembling process of spheroids through the use of membranes with selective permeability, specific surface and mechanical properties. Bioreactor technologies are key enabling technologies for individualized automation and mass production of tissues. Membrane bioreactors, which through the fluid dynamics modulation may simulate the in vivo complex physiological environment ensuring an adequate mass transfer of nutrients and metabolites and the molecular and mechanical regulatory signals, will be also displayed.
Advanced Membrane Bioartificial Systems in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
De Bartolo Loredana
2016
Abstract
There are medical needs that must be addressed by regenerative technologies including heart failure, diabetes, liver failure, osteoporosis, Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases, severe burns, spinal cord and nerve injuries. New therapeutic areas especially the development of neo-organs with complex three-dimensional structure may offer new solution to tissue loss or organ failure. Cell transplantation is primarily useful for replacing small areas of tissue. Bioartificial homologues are necessary to replace larger tissue areas or whole organs. For the biofabrication of an organ or tissue is required a biomimetic approach that utilizes expandable cells, a cell-affinity biomaterial that serves as scaffold and an optimal bioreactor. Micro- and nano-structured membrane bioartificial systems consisting of functional cells and polymeric membranes can be used for the reconstruction of tissue analogous because of the high control at molecular level of cell microenvironment. These artificial systems compartmentalize cells in micro and nanostructured complexes providing a wide surface area for the cell adhesion and ensuring a continuous and selective transport of nutrients and metabolites to and from cells. Membrane systems are able to create a biomimetic environment with highly selective and specific physico-chemical, morphological and transport properties. Tailor-made membranes (organic, functionalized with specific biomolecules, in flat and hollow-fiber configurations), designed and operated according to well-defined engineering criteria are able to sustain specific biotransformations, to provide adequate transport of oxygen, nutrients and catabolites throughout the cellular compartment, and to supply appropriate biomechanical stimuli of the developing tissue. In this paper the authors show the development of engineered membrane constructs by using isolated cells (e.g., liver cells, progenitor cells, neuronal cells, endothelial cells) or spheroids microtissues. Membranes with specific physico-chemical, morphological and transport properties would be able to modulate the adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of cells, which are fundamental processes for tissue regeneration by governing the mass transfer of molecules that generate a precisely controlled microenvironment that mimic the specific features of in vivo environment. Attempt to engineering biological tissues in vitro have been pursued by applying novel concepts of bioreactor design and membranes to enhance the ability to trigger biological signals that promote the morphogenesis of tissue. Membrane systems aimed at expanding and directing the differentiation of stem cells or progenitor cells will be presented. This approach allows the realization of microtissues inducing self-assembling process of spheroids through the use of membranes with selective permeability, specific surface and mechanical properties. Bioreactor technologies are key enabling technologies for individualized automation and mass production of tissues. Membrane bioreactors, which through the fluid dynamics modulation may simulate the in vivo complex physiological environment ensuring an adequate mass transfer of nutrients and metabolites and the molecular and mechanical regulatory signals, will be also displayed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
