A generalized approach to construction of complex tissues

Yong Yang, Yubing Xie, Ly James Lee, Douglas Kniss

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

Tissue engineering aims at reconstructing tissues and organs that have complex architectures and are composed of multiple cells with functions. It is challenging to localize the cells at a specific site, regulate cell behavior, and guide formation and development of new tissues in a controllable manner. We present a simple, versatile approach of constructing complex tissues, based on low-temperature fusion of polymeric micro/nanostructures using subcritical carbon dioxide (CO2). Different types of cells are first cultured in polymer scaffolds. These scaffolds, with the preloaded cells, are then fused using CO2. Eventually the construct can be developed into a complex tissue or organ. We found that CO2, even at low pressures, could manipulate the chain mobility and reduce the glass transition of polymers at the nanoscale, which makes it possible to fuse polymeric micro/nanostructures at biologically benign temperatures. Furthermore, CO2 could diffuse into the media and fuse the scaffolds with cells grown in it, while the cells (e.g. NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and human mesenchymal stem cells) kept their viability, growth, and functions. For example, after saturated with CO2 at 37°C and 200 psi for 1.5 hours, poly(lactide-co- glycolide) scaffolds with different microstructures were fused and the mouse ES cells grown in them were viable, kept their proliferation ability, formed embryonic bodies, and showed the potential to differentiate into multiple cell lineages. This demonstrates that a complex tissue with localized cell types could be constructed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages4395
Number of pages1
StatePublished - Oct 2005
Event05AIChE: 2005 AIChE Annual Meeting and Fall Showcase - Cincinnati, OH, United States
Duration: 30 Oct 20054 Nov 2005

Conference

Conference05AIChE: 2005 AIChE Annual Meeting and Fall Showcase
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityCincinnati, OH
Period30/10/054/11/05

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