Mechanical bioreactor for tissue-derived extracellular matrix scaffolds recellularization

LUCIA MAJUL; EDUARDO NIEVA,; NANCY A SALVATIERRA

Revista Argentina de Bioingeniería

SABI

Año: 2020 vol. 24 p. 65 - 71

2591-376X

Tissue engineering applies the principles of engineering and life sciences towardsthe development of functional engineered tissue. The complexity involved in in vivobiological systems creates a need for bioreactors, which can closely mimic the cells microenvironment. Some cells are well known to have the ability to sense and respond to mechanical stimuli, and a certain level of control over cell growth and differentiation may be accomplished through stretch stimulation.This work involvesdesign, development and implementation of a stretching device that induces uniaxial mechanical strain in recellularized native extracellular matrixscaffolds.Thedevicestructurewas obtainedbyusing the 3D printing technology,and cell stretching was accomplished via nut-spindle system. Porcine heart matrices, whichserved as mechanical support for the cells,were obtained by implementing an immersing decellularization protocol. The protocol?seffectiveness was verified through hematoxylin-eosin staining,andthena MTT cytotoxicity assaywas performed. The latterbrought out a satisfying result, showingcellviability percentage above 70%. The cell-stretcher test experiment involved 120 h, andincluded mechanical stimulation of anative extracellular matrixscaffold, seeded with Vero cells. Cell adhesion was verified with hematoxylin-eosin staining, while labeling the sample with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide showedthe presence of metabolically active cells after mechanical stimulation.