Preparation and characterization of a collagen/chitosan/heparin matrix for an implantable bioartificial liver

Progress of 3D Bioprinting in Organ Manufacturing

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is a family of rapid prototyping technologies, which assemble biomaterials, including cells and bioactive agents, under the control of a computer-aided design model in a layer-by-layer fashion. It has great potential in organ manufacturing areas with the combination of biology, polymers, chemistry, engineering, medicine, and mechanics. At present, 3D bioprinting technologies can be used to successfully print living tissues and organs, including blood vessels, skin, bones, cartilage, kidney, heart, and liver. The unique advantages of 3D bioprinting technologies for organ manufacturing have improved the traditional medical level significantly. In this article, we summarize the latest research progress of polymers in bioartificial organ 3D printing areas. The important characteristics of the printable polymers and the typical 3D bioprinting technologies for several complex bioartificial organs, such as the heart, liver, nerve, and skin, are introduced.

Preparation and evaluation of heparinized sponge based on collagen and chitosan for wound healing

The wound dressing can temporarily replace the skin and play a protective role in the process of wound healing, preventing wound infection and inflammation, and providing a favorable environment for wound healing. In this study, a mixture of collagen and chitosan was lyophilized to be the host material of the sponge. This sponge was soaked into 1-ethyl-(dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide/N-hydroxy sulfosuccinimide cross-linking solution containing heparin and experienced secondary lyophilization to prepare the heparinized sponge (CT-CL/Hp). The surface morphology and structural characterization of the sponge was characterized by scanning electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, respectively. Relatively favorable water absorption capability were observed by measuring the physical properties. Satisfactory antibacterial properties against various bacteria and microbial isolation performance were observed by the antibacterial effect analysis in vitro. The sustained-release property of heparin from the sponges was measured using Alcian Blue assay. Experiments in vitro and in vivo showed that the sponges had satisfactory biocompatibility and lower sensitization. Moreover, the effect of sponge on early stages of wound healing was evaluated by guinea pigs wound healing models. Analysis of wound healing rates and histological examination showed satisfactory results. CT-CL/Hp enhanced expression of growth factors, particularly VEGF and EGF at day 7. These results demonstrated that CT-CL/Hp–treated sponges benefit to wound skin healing and regeneration.

Three-Dimensional Printing Constructs Based on the Chitosan for Tissue Regeneration: State of the Art, Developing Directions and Prospect Trends

Chitosan (CS) has gained particular attention in biomedical applications due to its biocompatibility, antibacterial feature, and biodegradability. Hence, many studies have focused on the manufacturing of CS films, scaffolds, particulate, and inks via different production methods. Nowadays, with the possibility of the precise adjustment of porosity size and shape, fiber size, suitable interconnectivity of pores, and creation of patient-specific constructs, 3D printing has overcome the limitations of many traditional manufacturing methods. Therefore, the fabrication of 3D printed CS scaffolds can lead to promising advances in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. A review of additive manufacturing types, CS-based printed constructs, their usages as biomaterials, advantages, and drawbacks can open doors to optimize CS-based constructions for biomedical applications. The latest technological issues and upcoming capabilities of 3D printing with CS-based biopolymers for different applications are also discussed. This review article will act as a roadmap aiming to investigate chitosan as a new feedstock concerning various 3D printing approaches which may be employed in biomedical fields. In fact, the combination of 3D printing and CS-based biopolymers is extremely appealing particularly with regard to certain clinical purposes. Complications of 3D printing coupled with the challenges associated with materials should be recognized to help make this method feasible for wider clinical requirements. This strategy is currently gaining substantial attention in terms of several industrial biomedical products. In this review, the key 3D printing approaches along with revealing historical background are initially presented, and ultimately, the applications of different 3D printing techniques for fabricating chitosan constructs will be discussed. The recognition of essential complications and technical problems related to numerous 3D printing techniques and CS-based biopolymer choices according to clinical requirements is crucial. A comprehensive investigation will be required to encounter those challenges and to completely understand the possibilities of 3D printing in the foreseeable future.

An Interpenetrating Alginate/Gelatin Network for Three-Dimensional (3D) Cell Cultures and Organ Bioprinting

Crosslinking is an effective way to improve the physiochemical and biochemical properties of hydrogels. In this study, we describe an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) of alginate/gelatin hydrogels (i.e., A-G-IPN) in which cells can be encapsulated for in vitro three-dimensional (3D) cultures and organ bioprinting. A double crosslinking model, i.e., using Ca²⁺ to crosslink alginate molecules and transglutaminase (TG) to crosslink gelatin molecules, is exploited to improve the physiochemical, such as water holding capacity, hardness and structural integrity, and biochemical properties, such as cytocompatibility, of the alginate/gelatin hydrogels. For the sake of convenience, the individual ionic (i.e., only treatment with Ca²⁺) or enzymatic (i.e., only treatment with TG) crosslinked alginate/gelatin hydrogels are referred as alginate-semi-IPN (i.e., A-semi-IPN) or gelatin-semi-IPN (i.e., G-semi-IPN), respectively. Tunable physiochemical and biochemical properties of the hydrogels have been obtained by changing the crosslinking sequences and polymer concentrations. Cytocompatibilities of the obtained hydrogels are evaluated through in vitro 3D cell cultures and bioprinting. The double crosslinked A-G-IPN hydrogel is a promising candidate for a wide range of biomedical applications, including bioartificial organ manufacturing, high-throughput drug screening, and pathological mechanism analyses.

Liver Tissue Engineering as an Emerging Alternative for Liver Disease Treatment

Chronic liver diseases affect thousands of lives throughout the world every year. The shortage of liver donors for transplantation has been the main driving force to employ alternative methods such as liver tissue engineering (LTE) in fabricating a three-dimensional transplantable liver tissue or enhancing cell delivery techniques alleviating the need for liver donors. LTE consists of three components, cells, ECM (extracellular matrix), and signaling molecules, which we discuss the first and second. The three most common cell sources used in LTE are human and animal primary hepatocytes, and stem cells for different applications. Two major categories of ECM are used to mimic the microenvironment of these cells, named scaffolds and microbeads. Scaffolds have been made by numerous methods with a wide range of synthetic and natural biomaterials. Cell encapsulation has also been utilized by many polymeric biomaterials. To investigate their functions, many properties have been discussed in the literature, such as biochemical, geometrical, and mechanical properties, in both of these categories. Overall, LTE shows excellent potential in assisting hepatic disorders. However, some challenges exist that prevent the practical use of it clinically, making LTE an ongoing research subject in the scientific society.

Synergistic Effects on Incorporation of β-Tricalcium Phosphate and Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles to Silk Fibroin/Soy Protein Isolate Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

In bone tissue engineering, an ideal scaffold is required to have favorable physical, chemical (or physicochemical), and biological (or biochemical) properties to promote osteogenesis. Although silk fibroin (SF) and/or soy protein isolate (SPI) scaffolds have been widely used as an alternative to autologous and heterologous bone grafts, the poor mechanical property and insufficient osteoinductive capability has become an obstacle for their in vivo applications. Herein, β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles are incorporated into SF/SPI scaffolds simultaneously or individually. Physical and chemical properties of these composite scaffolds are evaluated using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Biocompatibility and osteogenesis of the composite scaffolds are evaluated using bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). All the composite scaffolds have a complex porous structure with proper pore sizes and porosities. Physicochemical properties of the scaffolds can be significantly increased through the incorporation of β-TCP and GO nanoparticles. Alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) and osteogenesis-related gene expression of the BMSCs are significantly enhanced in the presence of β-TCP and GO nanoparticles. Especially, β-TCP and GO nanoparticles have a synergistic effect on promoting osteogenesis. These results suggest that the β-TCP and GO enhanced SF/SPI scaffolds are promising candidates for bone tissue regeneration.

Advanced Polymers for Three-Dimensional (3D) Organ Bioprinting

Three-dimensional (3D) organ bioprinting is an attractive scientific area with huge commercial profit, which could solve all the serious bottleneck problems for allograft transplantation, high-throughput drug screening, and pathological analysis. Integrating multiple heterogeneous adult cell types and/or stem cells along with other biomaterials (e.g., polymers, bioactive agents, or biomolecules) to make 3D constructs functional is one of the core issues for 3D bioprinting of bioartificial organs. Both natural and synthetic polymers play essential and ubiquitous roles for hierarchical vascular and neural network formation in 3D printed constructs based on their specific physical, chemical, biological, and physiological properties. In this article, several advanced polymers with excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, 3D printability, and structural stability are reviewed. The challenges and perspectives of polymers for rapid manufacturing of complex organs, such as the liver, heart, kidney, lung, breast, and brain, are outlined.

Chitosans for Tissue Repair and Organ Three-Dimensional (3D) Bioprinting

Chitosan is a unique natural resourced polysaccharide derived from chitin with special biocompatibility, biodegradability, and antimicrobial activity. During the past three decades, chitosan has gradually become an excellent candidate for various biomedical applications with prominent characteristics. Chitosan molecules can be chemically modified, adapting to all kinds of cells in the body, and endowed with specific biochemical and physiological functions. In this review, the intrinsic/extrinsic properties of chitosan molecules in skin, bone, cartilage, liver tissue repair, and organ three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting have been outlined. Several successful models for large scale-up vascularized and innervated organ 3D bioprinting have been demonstrated. Challenges and perspectives in future complex organ 3D bioprinting areas have been analyzed.

3D Bioprinting of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells for Organ Manufacturing

Organ manufacturing is an attractive high-tech research field which can solve the serious donor shortage problems for allograft organ transplantation, high throughput drug screening, and energy metabolism model establishment. How to integrate heterogeneous cell types along with other biomaterials to form bioartificial organs is one of the kernel issues for organ manufacturing. At present, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting of adipose-derives stem cell (ADSC) containing hydrogels has shown the most bright futures with respect to overcoming all the difficult problems encountered by tissue engineers over the last several decades. In this chapter, we briefly introduce the 3D ADSC bioprinting technologies for organ manufacturing, especially for the branched vascular network construction.

Using zeta potential to study the ionisation behaviour of polymers employed in modified-release dosage forms and estimating their pKa

A range of enteric polymers is used in pharmaceutical industry for developing gastro-resistant formulations. It is generally implied that these coatings are interchangeable due to similar dissolution pH thresholds reported by suppliers. Despite rapid dissolution in compendial phosphate buffers, these products can take up to 2 h to disintegrate in-vivo in the human small intestine. The factors primarily responsible for such variability in dissolution of these polymeric coatings are the differences in ionisation of acidic functional groups on polymer chains and their interplay with ions and buffer species present in gastrointestinal fluids. In this study, we aim to develop a novel, simple and inexpensive technique that can be used under various in-vitro conditions to study the ionisation behaviour of commonly used polymers (EUDRAGIT-E100, L100, S100, HPMC AS-LF, AS-HF, HP-50, HP-55) and to estimate their pK_a. Moreover, this method was successfully applied to study the ionisation behaviour of a range of natural polymers (Guar, Tara, locust bean, Konjac gums, gum Arabic, citrus pectin, chitosan and alginate) and their pK_a was also estimated. The proposed method would allow a better understanding of the dissolution behaviour of these polymers within gastrointestinal tract and will aid rational design of modified release dosage forms.

Hydrogels for Liver Tissue Engineering

Bioengineered livers are promising in vitro models for drug testing, toxicological studies, and as disease models, and might in the future be an alternative for donor organs to treat end-stage liver diseases. Liver tissue engineering (LTE) aims to construct liver models that are physiologically relevant. To make bioengineered livers, the two most important ingredients are hepatic cells and supportive materials such as hydrogels. In the past decades, dozens of hydrogels have been developed to act as supportive materials, and some have been used for in vitro models and formed functional liver constructs. However, currently none of the used hydrogels are suitable for in vivo transplantation. Here, the histology of the human liver and its relationship with LTE is introduced. After that, significant characteristics of hydrogels are described focusing on LTE. Then, both natural and synthetic materials utilized in hydrogels for LTE are reviewed individually. Finally, a conclusion is drawn on a comparison of the different hydrogels and their characteristics and ideal hydrogels are proposed to promote LTE.

Bioartificial Organ Manufacturing Technologies

Bioartificial organ manufacturing technologies are a series of enabling techniques that can be used to produce human organs based on bionic principles. During the last ten years, significant progress has been achieved in the development of various organ manufacturing technologies. According to the degree of automation, organ manufacturing technologies can be divided into three main groups: (1) fully automated; (2) semi-automated; (3) handworked (or handmade); each has the advantages and disadvantages for bioartificial organ manufacturing. One of the most promising bioartificial organ manufacturing technologies is to use combined multi-nozzle three-dimensional printing techniques to automatically assemble personal cells along with other biomaterials to build exclusive organ substitutes for defective/failed human organs. This is the first time that advanced bioartificial organ manufacturing technologies have been reviewed. These technologies hold the promise to greatly improve the quality of health and average lifespan of human beings in the near future.

Natural Polymers for Organ 3D Bioprinting

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, known as a promising technology for bioartificial organ manufacturing, has provided unprecedented versatility to manipulate cells and other biomaterials with precise control their locations in space. Over the last decade, a number of 3D bioprinting technologies have been explored. Natural polymers have played a central role in supporting the cellular and biomolecular activities before, during and after the 3D bioprinting processes. These polymers have been widely used as effective cell-loading hydrogels for homogeneous/heterogeneous tissue/organ formation, hierarchical vascular/neural/lymphatic network construction, as well as multiple biological/biochemial/physiological/biomedical/pathological functionality realization. This review aims to cover recent progress in natural polymers for bioartificial organ 3D bioprinting. It is structured as introducing the important properties of 3D printable natural polymers, successful models of 3D tissue/organ construction and typical technologies for bioartificial organ 3D bioprinting.

Functional hepatocyte clusters on bioactive blend silk matrices towards generating bioartificial liver constructs

The creation of in vitro functional hepatic tissue simulating micro-environmental niche of native liver is a keen area of research due to its demand in bioartificial liver (BAL) and cell-based tissue engineering. Here, we investigated the potential of novel blend (BA) silk scaffold fabricated by blending mulberry (Bombyx mori, BM) silk fibroin with cell adhesion motif (RGD) rich non-mulberry (Antheraea assamensis, AA) silk fibroin, in generating a functional liver construct. Three-dimensional (3D) porous silk scaffolds (BM, AA and BA) were physico-chemically characterized and functionally evaluated using human hepatocarcinoma cells (HepG2) and primary neonatal rat hepatocytes. The growth and distribution of hepatocytes within the scaffolds were tracked by FESEM, alamar blue proliferation assay and live/dead staining. Hemocompatible BA scaffolds supported the formation of high density hepatocyte clusters, facilitating cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions. Blend scaffolds evinced enhanced liver-specific functions of cultured hepatocytes in terms of albumin synthesis, urea synthesis and cytochrome P450 enzyme activity over 21 days. Subcutaneous implantation of scaffolds demonstrated minimal macrophage infiltration in blend scaffolds. These findings substantiate that the integral property of blend (BA) scaffold offers a befitting environment by influencing spheroidal growth of hepatocytes with enhanced biological activity. Collectively, the present study provides a new 3D bio-matrix niche for growing functional liver cells that would have future prospects in BAL as well as regenerative medicine.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

An end stage liver disease called cirrhosis perturbs the self-healing ability and physiological functions of liver. Due to the scarcity of healthy donors, a functional in vitro hepatic construct retaining the liver-specific functions is in great demand for its prospects in bioartificial liver (BAL) and cell-based tissue engineering. Physicochemical attributes of a matrix influence the behavior of cultured hepatocytes in terms of attachment, morphology and functionality. Mulberry and non-mulberry silk fibroin presents unique amino acid sequence with difference in hydrophobicity and crystallinity. Considering this, the present study focuses on the development of a suitable three-dimensional (3D) bioactive matrix incorporating both mulberry silk fibroin and cell adhesion motif (RGD) rich non-mulberry silk fibroin. Porous silk blend scaffolds facilitated the formation of hepatocyte clusters with enhanced liver-specific functions emphasizing both cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Hemocompatibility and integral property of blend scaffolds offers a biological niche for seeding functional liver cells that would have future prospects in biohybrid devices.

Gelatin-Based Hydrogels for Organ 3D Bioprinting

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is a family of enabling technologies that can be used to manufacture human organs with predefined hierarchical structures, material constituents and physiological functions. The main objective of these technologies is to produce high-throughput and/or customized organ substitutes (or bioartificial organs) with heterogeneous cell types or stem cells along with other biomaterials that are able to repair, replace or restore the defect/failure counterparts. Gelatin-based hydrogels, such as gelatin/fibrinogen, gelatin/hyaluronan and gelatin/alginate/fibrinogen, have unique features in organ 3D bioprinting technologies. This article is an overview of the intrinsic/extrinsic properties of the gelatin-based hydrogels in organ 3D bioprinting areas with advanced technologies, theories and principles. The state of the art of the physical/chemical crosslinking methods of the gelatin-based hydrogels being used to overcome the weak mechanical properties is highlighted. A multicellular model made from adipose-derived stem cell proliferation and differentiation in the predefined 3D constructs is emphasized. Multi-nozzle extrusion-based organ 3D bioprinting technologies have the distinguished potential to eventually manufacture implantable bioartificial organs for purposes such as customized organ restoration, high-throughput drug screening and metabolic syndrome model establishment.

Preparation and characterization of a chitosan/galactosylated hyaluronic acid/heparin scaffold for hepatic tissue engineering

Cell culture microenvironment and hepatocyte-specific three-dimensional tissue-engineering scaffold play important roles for bioartificial liver devices. In the present study, highly porous sponge scaffolds composed of chitosan (CS) and galactosylated hyaluronic acid (GHA, galactose moieties were covalently coupled with hyaluronic acid through ethylenediamine), were prepared by freezing-drying technique. Because the growth factors specifically bind to heparin with a high affinity and biological stability of the growth factors are modulated by heparin. Heparin was added into CS/GHA scaffold under mild conditions. The effects of heparin on the morphology, structure, porosity, mechanical properties of the CS/GHA/heparin scaffold were studied. CS/GHA scaffold containing heparin maintains the porous structure and good mechanical properties. Furthermore, addition of heparin with the growth factors into the scaffold resulted in a significantly improved the microenvironment of cell growth and prolonged liver functions of the hepatocytes such as albumin secretion, urea synthesis and ammonia elimination. These results indicate that this CS/GHA/heparin scaffold is a potential candidate for liver tissue engineering.

Shrinking mechanism of a porous collagen matrix immersed in solution

The porous structure of collagen-based matrices enables the infiltration of cells both in in vitro and clinical applications. Reconstituted porous collagen matrices often collapse when they are in contact with aqueous solutions; however, the mechanism for the collapse of the pores is not understood. We, therefore, investigated the interactions between the collagen matrix and different solutions, and discuss the mechanisms for the change in microstructure of the matrix on immersing it in solution. When a dried collagen matrix was immersed in aqueous solutions, the matrix shrunk and pores close to the surface closed. The shrinkage ratio and thickness of the compact microstructure close to the superficial area decreased with increasing ethanol content in the solution. The original porous structure of the collagen matrix was preserved when the matrix was immersed in absolute ethanol. The shrinkage of a porous collagen matrix in contact with aqueous solutions was attributed to the liquid/gas interfacial tension. The average pore diameter of the matrix also significantly affected the shrinkage of the matrix. The shrinkage of the matrix, explained using the Young-Laplace equation, was found to result from the pressure drop, and especially in the pores located superficially, leading to the collapse of the matrix microstructure. The integrity of the porous microstructure allows better penetration of cells in medical applications. The numbers of NIH/3T3 fibroblasts penetrated through the hydrated Col/PBS porous collagen matrices pre-immersed in absolute ethanol with subsequent water and DMEM culture medium replacements were significantly higher than those through matrices hydrated directly in DMEM.

Oxidized dextrins as alternative crosslinking agents for polysaccharides: application to hydrogels of agarose-chitosan

Hydrogel networks that combine suitable physical and biomechanical characteristics for tissue engineering scaffolds are in demand. The aim of this work was the development of hydrogel networks based on agarose and chitosan using oxidized dextrins as low cytotoxicity crosslinking agents, paying special attention to the study of the influence of the polysaccharide composition and oxidation degree of the dextrins in the final characteristics of the network. The results show that the formation of an interpenetrating or a semi-interpenetrating polymer network was mainly dependent on a minimum agarose content and degree of oxidation of dextrin. Spectroscopic, thermal and swelling analysis revealed good compatibility with an absence of phase separation of polysaccharides at agarose:chitosan proportions of 50:50 and 25:75. The analysis of atomic force microscopy images showed the formation of a fibrillar microstructure whose distribution within the crosslinked chitosan depended mainly on the crosslinker. All materials exhibited the viscoelastic behaviour typical of gels, with a constant storage modulus independent of frequency for all compositions. The stiffness was strongly influenced by the degree of oxidation of the crosslinker. Cellular response to the hydrogels was studied with cells of different strains, and cell adhesion and proliferation was correlated with the homogeneity of the samples and their elastic properties. Some hydrogel formulations seemed to be candidates for tissue engineering applications such as wound healing or soft tissue regeneration.

In vitro vascularization of a combined system based on a 3D printing technique

A vital challenge in complex organ manufacturing is to vascularize large combined tissues. The aim of this study is to vascularize in vitro an adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC)/fibrin/collagen incorporated three-dimensional (3D) poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffold (10 × 10 × 10 mm³ ) with interconnected channels. A low-temperature 3D printing technique was employed to build the PLGA scaffold. A step-by-step cocktail procedure was designed to engage or steer the ADSCs in the PLGA channels towards both endothelial and smooth muscle cell lineages. The combined system had sufficient mechanical properties to support the cell/fibrin/collagen hydrogel inside the predefined PLGA channels. The ADSCs encapsulated in the fibrin/collagen hydrogel differentiated to endothelial and smooth muscle cell lineage, respectively, corresponding to their respective locations in the construct and formed vascular-like structures. This technique allows in vitro vascularization of the predefined PLGA channels and provides a choice for complex organ manufacture. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Biomaterials for liver tissue engineering

Liver extracellular matrix (ECM) composition, topography and biomechanical properties influence cell-matrix interactions. The ECM presents guiding cues for hepatocyte phenotype maintenance, differentiation and proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. Current understanding of such cell-guiding cues along with advancement of techniques for scaffold fabrication has led to evolution of matrices for liver tissue culture from simple porous scaffolds to more complex 3D matrices with microarchitecture similar to in vivo. Natural and synthetic polymeric biomaterials fabricated in different topographies and porous matrices have been used for hepatocyte culture. Heterotypic and homotypic cell interactions are necessary for developing an adult liver as well as an artificial liver. A high oxygen demand of hepatocytes as well as graded oxygen distribution in liver is another challenging attribute of the normal liver architecture that further adds to the complexity of engineered substrate design. A balanced interplay of cell-matrix interactions along with cell-cell interactions and adequate supply of oxygen and nutrient determines the success of an engineered substrate for liver cells. Techniques devised to incorporate these features of hepatic function and mimic liver architecture range from maintaining liver cells in mm-sized tailor-made scaffolds to a more bottoms up approach that starts from building the microscopic subunit of the whole tissue. In this review, we discuss briefly various biomaterials used for liver tissue engineering with respect to design parameters such as scaffold composition and chemistry, biomechanical properties, topography, cell-cell interactions and oxygenation.

Recent advances in 2D and 3D in vitro systems using primary hepatocytes, alternative hepatocyte sources and non-parenchymal liver cells and their use in investigating mechanisms of hepatotoxicity, cell signaling and ADME

This review encompasses the most important advances in liver functions and hepatotoxicity and analyzes which mechanisms can be studied in vitro. In a complex architecture of nested, zonated lobules, the liver consists of approximately 80 % hepatocytes and 20 % non-parenchymal cells, the latter being involved in a secondary phase that may dramatically aggravate the initial damage. Hepatotoxicity, as well as hepatic metabolism, is controlled by a set of nuclear receptors (including PXR, CAR, HNF-4α, FXR, LXR, SHP, VDR and PPAR) and signaling pathways. When isolating liver cells, some pathways are activated, e.g., the RAS/MEK/ERK pathway, whereas others are silenced (e.g. HNF-4α), resulting in up- and downregulation of hundreds of genes. An understanding of these changes is crucial for a correct interpretation of in vitro data. The possibilities and limitations of the most useful liver in vitro systems are summarized, including three-dimensional culture techniques, co-cultures with non-parenchymal cells, hepatospheres, precision cut liver slices and the isolated perfused liver. Also discussed is how closely hepatoma, stem cell and iPS cell-derived hepatocyte-like-cells resemble real hepatocytes. Finally, a summary is given of the state of the art of liver in vitro and mathematical modeling systems that are currently used in the pharmaceutical industry with an emphasis on drug metabolism, prediction of clearance, drug interaction, transporter studies and hepatotoxicity. One key message is that despite our enthusiasm for in vitro systems, we must never lose sight of the in vivo situation. Although hepatocytes have been isolated for decades, the hunt for relevant alternative systems has only just begun.

Rapid prototyping of tubular polyurethane and cell/hydrogel constructs

A tubular polyurethane (PU) sandwich-like, adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC)/gelatin/alginate/ fibrin construct was fabricated using a double-nozzle, low-temperature (—20°C) deposition technique. The ADSCs survived the fabrication and cryopreservation stages by incorporating a cryoprotectant (glycerol or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)) in the cell/hydrogel system. With 5% DMSO or 10% glycerol alone in the hydrogel, the cell viabilities were retained (73% and 62%, respectively). The three-dimensional construct was effectively preserved below —80°C for more than 1 week. After the freeze/thaw processes, cell viability and proliferation ability were regained. This strategy has the potential to be widely used in complex organ manufacturing techniques.

Preparation and characterization of chitosan-heparin composite matrices for blood contacting tissue engineering

Chitosan has been widely used for biomaterial scaffolds in tissue engineering because of its good mechanical properties and cytocompatibility. However, the poor blood compatibility of chitosan has greatly limited its biomedical utilization, especially for blood contacting tissue engineering. In this study, we exploited a polymer blending procedure to heparinize the chitosan material under simple and mild conditions to improve its antithrombogenic property. By an optimized procedure, a macroscopically homogeneous chitosan-heparin (Chi-Hep) blended suspension was obtained, with which Chi-Hep composite films and porous scaffolds were fabricated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and sulfur elemental analysis confirmed the successful immobilization of heparin in the composite matrices (i.e. films and porous scaffolds). Toluidine blue staining indicated that heparin was distributed homogeneously in the composite matrices. Only a small amount of heparin was released from the matrices during incubation in normal saline for 10 days. The composite matrices showed improved blood compatibility, as well as good mechanical properties and endothelial cell compatibility. These results suggest that the Chi-Hep composite matrices are promising candidates for blood contacting tissue engineering.

Liver tissue engineering: promises and prospects of new technology

Today, many patients suffer from acute liver failure and hepatoma. This is an area of high unmet clinical need as these conditions are associated with very high mortality. There is an urgent need to develop techniques that will enable liver tissue engineering or generate a bioartificial liver, which will maintain or improve liver function or offer the possibility of liver replacement. Liver tissue engineering is an innovative way of constructing an implantable liver and has the potential to alleviate the shortage of organ donors for orthotopic liver transplantation. In this review we describe, from an engineering perspective, progress in the field of liver tissue engineering, including three main aspects involving cell sources, scaffolds and vascularization.

A review of three-dimensional in vitro tissue models for drug discovery and transport studies

The use of animal models in drug discovery studies presents issues with feasibility and ethical concerns. To address these limitations, in vitro tissue models have been developed to provide a means for systematic, repetitive, and quantitative investigation of drugs. By eliminating or reducing the need for animal subjects, these models can serve as platforms for more tightly controlled, high-throughput screening of drugs and for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analyses of drugs. The focus of this review is three-dimensional (3D) tissue models that can capture cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Compared to the 2D culture of cell monolayers, 3D models more closely mimic native tissues since the cellular microenvironment established in the 3D models often plays a significant role in disease progression and cellular responses to drugs. A growing body of research has been published in the literature, which highlights the benefits of the 3D in vitro models of various tissues. This review provides an overview of some successful 3D in vitro models that have been developed to mimic liver, breast, cardiac, muscle, bone, and corneal tissues as well as malignant tissues in solid tumors.

Direct Fabrication of a Hybrid Cell/Hydrogel Construct by a Double-nozzle Assembling Technology

Assembling multitype cells and biomimic extracellular matrix materials in a single construct is a promising method to regenerate complex tissues/organs in vitro. A new double-nozzle assembling technique was used to fabricate a hybrid cell/hydrogel construct with a vascular-like network to perform as a mass exchange conduit. Using a digital model to mimic an anatomical liver structure, adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSC) were combined within a gelatin/alginate/fibrinogen hydrogel to form a vascular-like network and hepatocytes combined gelatin/alginate/chitosan were placed around it. The construct was stabilized in a thrombin/CaCl2/Na5P3O10 solution after assembly. The ADSC were induced to differentiate into endothelial-like cells with endothelial growth factor. The albumin secretion level of the embedded hepatocytes increased during the 2 weeks culture, while the levels of urea and alanine transaminase were decreased after an increasing profile. These preliminary results indicate that this double-nozzle assembling technique could be a powerful tool for fabricating complex constructs with special intrinsic/ extrinsic structures. This technology has the potential to be widely used in medical regeneration and drug screening.

Peroneal Nerve Regeneration Using a Unique Bilayer Polyurethane-collagen Guide Conduit

Unique double layer polyurethane (PU)-collagen nerve guide conduits with desirable biocompatibility and mechanical properties were fabricated using a newly developed double-nozzle low-temperature deposition manufacturing (DLDM) technique. The inner collagen layer of the conduit had oriented nano-size filaments with micro-pores (pore size 20—100μm) that permitted nutrient infiltration, while the outer PU layer had micro-pores (pore size 15—20 μm) preventing fibrous tissue invasion. In vivo animal tests (n = 6) on bridging a 10 mm long peroneal nerve defect was conducted using rats. Single layer pure PU conduit (n = 6) was used as the positive control and the same size defect with no implantation (n = 2) as the negative control. Through walk track analysis as well as electrophysiological and histological evaluations of the regenerated nerves, the double layer PU-collagen conduit demonstrated better nerve repair than the controls. This new PU-collagen has the potential for significant clinical applications in peripheral nerve repair.

Silk fibroin/chitosan scaffold: preparation, characterization, and culture with HepG2 cell

Tissue engineering requires the development of three-dimensional water-stable scaffolds. In this study, silk fibroin/chitosan (SFCS) scaffold was successfully prepared by freeze-drying method. The scaffold is water-stable, only swelling to a limited extent depending on its composition. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra and X-Ray diffraction curves confirmed the different structure of SFCS scaffolds from both chitosan and silk fibroin. The homogeneous porous structure, together with nano-scale compatibility of the two naturally derived polymers, gives rise to the controllable mechanical properties of SFCS scaffolds. By varying the composition, both the compressive modulus and compressive strength of SFCS scaffolds can be controlled. The porosity of SFCS scaffolds is above 95% when the total concentration of silk fibroin and chitosan is below 6 wt%. The pore sizes of the SFCS scaffolds range from 100 microm to 150 microm, which can be regulated by changing the total concentration. MTT assay showed that SFCS scaffolds can promote the proliferation of HepG2 cells (human hepatoma cell line) significantly. All these results make SFCS scaffold a suitable candidate for tissue engineering.

Collagen—Chitosan Nerve Guides for Peripheral Nerve Repair: A Histomorphometric Study

Currently a wide variety of polymer materials are being applied to fabricate nerve guide tubes to repair injured peripheral nerves. In this study we have examined whether collagen—chitosan nerve guides promotes nerve repair compared to chitosan nerve guides using histological analysis. Results indicates that the enclosed structure of the nerve guide both promotes and supports axonal sprouting. Collagen—chitosan guides improved axonal maturation measured by a significant increase in axon diameter and axon area. These findings indicate that the collagen—chitosan nerve guides can be applied to repair severed peripheral nerve ends.

Rapid Prototyping of Polyurethane for the Creation of Vascular Systems

A precise control over the internal architecture was essential for manufacture of complex organs. To create vascular systems that mimic human livers, we designed and fabricated complex 3D objects with an intrinsic network of interconnected channels. A new elastomeric polyurethane, mainly based on polycaprolactone and poly(ethylene glycol) with excellent biocompatibility and tunable biodegradation properties, was used to fabricate these vascular systems using a low temperature deposition system based on the layer-by-layer manufacturing principle. A specific model was selected via computer aided design (CAD), solid free form fabrication processes are conducted under computer direction. Two example object patterns were produced by precision controlled dispensing of a biodegradable polyurethane into 3D multi-micro-tunnels with multi-micro-pores at a low temperature (-28°C). The design and fabrication strategies used to create physical objects directly from CAD models represent a promising route for the establishment of complex organ vascular systems.

Chitosan and its derivatives for tissue engineering applications

Tissue engineering is an important therapeutic strategy for present and future medicine. Recently, functional biomaterial researches have been directed towards the development of improved scaffolds for regenerative medicine. Chitosan is a natural polymer from renewable resources, obtained from shell of shellfish, and the wastes of the seafood industry. It has novel properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, antibacterial, and wound-healing activity. Furthermore, recent studies suggested that chitosan and its derivatives are promising candidates as a supporting material for tissue engineering applications owing to their porous structure, gel forming properties, ease of chemical modification, high affinity to in vivo macromolecules, and so on. In this review, we focus on the various types of chitosan derivatives and their use in various tissue engineering applications namely, skin, bone, cartilage, liver, nerve and blood vessel.

Rapid prototyping as a tool for manufacturing bioartificial livers

Rapid prototyping (RP) technologies are a set of manufacturing processes that can produce very complex structures directly from computer-aided design models without structure-specific tools or knowledge. These technologies might eventually enable the manufacture of human livers to create functional substitutes for treating liver failure or dysfunctionality. However, the approaches used currently face many challenges, such as the complex branched vascular and bile ductular systems and the variety of cell types, matrices and regulatory factors involved in liver development. Here, we discuss the challenges and provide evidence for the usefulness of RP in overcoming them.

Nanofabrication and Microfabrication of Functional Materials for Tissue Engineering

The burgeoning field of regenerative medicine promises significant progress in the treatment of cardiac ischemia, liver disease, and spinal cord injury. Key to its success will be the ability to engineer tissue safely and reliably. Tissue functionality must be recapitulated in the laboratory and then integrated into surrounding tissue upon transfer to the patient. Scaffolding materials must be chosen such that the microenvironment surrounding the cells is a close analog of the native environment. In the early days of tissue engineering, these materials were largely borrowed from other fields, with much of the focus on biocompatibility and biodegradation. However, attention has shifted recently to cell-cell and cell-surface interactions, largely because of enabling technologies at the nanoscale and microscale. Studies on cellular behavior in response to various stimuli are now easily realized by using microfabrication techniques and devices (e.g., biomedical microelectromechanical systems). These experiments are reproducible and moderate in cost, and often can be accomplished at high throughput, providing the fundamental knowledge required to design biomaterials that closely mimic the biological system. It is our opinion that these novel materials and technologies will bring engineered tissues one step closer to practical application in the clinic. This review discusses their application to cardiac, liver, and nerve tissue engineering.

Preparation and assessment of glutaraldehyde-crosslinked collagen–chitosan hydrogels for adipose tissue engineering

A portfolio of crosslinked chitosan:collagen blends was prepared, and their microarchitecture and water binding capacity were studied to investigate their application for adipose tissue engineering. Glutaraldehyde (GA) concentration had little effect on scaffold morphology or water binding capacity. However, the processing freezing temperature prior to lyophilization affected both. In vitro cytocompatibility of pre-adipocytes (PAs) was assessed for a candidate collagen:chitosan blend using two assays. Results confirm the viability of PAs on GA-crosslinked collagen:chitosan scaffolds. A rat subcutaneous pocket assay was employed to assess PA-seeded scaffolds in vivo. Animal tests proved that PA-seeded scaffolds were biocompatible, could induce vascularization, and form adipose tissue.