Regeneration von Knochendefekten mit computergesteuerter Herstellung von Gerüstträgern

Die Behandlung ausgedehnter Knochen-defekte nach Traumata oder durch Tumoren stellt nach wie vor eine signifikante Heraus-forderung im klinischen Alltag dar. Aufgrund der bestehenden Limitationen aktueller Therapiestandards haben Knochen-Tissue-Engineering (TE)-Verfahren zunehmend an Bedeutung gewonnen. Die Entwicklung von Additive-Manufacturing (AM)-Verfahren hat dabei eine grundlegende Innovation ausgelöst: Durch AM lassen sich dreidimensionale Gerüstträger in einem computergestützten Schichtfür-Schicht-Verfahren aus digitalen 3D-Vorlagen erstellen. Wurden mittels AM zunächst nur Modelle zur haptischen Darstellung knöcherner Pathologika und zur Planung von Operationen hergestellt, so ist es mit der Entwicklung nun möglich, detaillierte Scaffoldstrukturen zur Tissue-Engineering-Anwendung im Knochen zu fabrizieren. Die umfassende Kontrolle der internen Scaffoldstruktur und der äußeren Scaffoldmaße erlaubt eine Custom-made-Anwendung mit auf den individuellen Knochendefekt und die entsprechenden (mechanischen etc.) Anforderungen abgestimmten Konstrukten. Ein zukünftiges Feld ist das automatisierte ultrastrukturelle Design von TE-Konstrukten aus Scaffold-Biomaterialien in Kombination mit lebenden Zellen und biologisch aktiven Wachstumsfaktoren zur Nachbildung natürlicher (knöcherner) Organstrukturen.

Osteogenic Induction of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Progenitor Cells in Novel Synthetic Polymer–Hydrogel Matrices

The aim of this project was to investigate the in vitro osteogenic potential of human mesenchymal progenitor cells in novel matrix architectures built by means of a three-dimensional bioresorbable synthetic framework in combination with a hydrogel. Human mesenchymal progenitor cells (hMPCs) were isolated from a human bone marrow aspirate by gradient centrifugation. Before in vitro engineering of scaffold-hMPC constructs, the adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation potential was demonstrated by staining of neutral lipids and induction of bone-specific proteins, respectively. After expansion in monolayer cultures, the cells were enzymatically detached and then seeded in combination with a hydrogel into polycaprolactone (PCL) and polycaprolactone-hydroxyapatite (PCL-HA) frameworks. This scaffold design concept is characterized by novel matrix architecture, good mechanical properties, and slow degradation kinetics of the framework and a biomimetic milieu for cell delivery and proliferation. To induce osteogenic differentiation, the specimens were cultured in an osteogenic cell culture medium and were maintained in vitro for 6 weeks. Cellular distribution and viability within three-dimensional hMPC bone grafts were documented by scanning electron microscopy, cell metabolism assays, and confocal laser microscopy. Secretion of the osteogenic marker molecules type I procollagen and osteocalcin was analyzed by semiquantitative immunocytochemistry assays. Alkaline phosphatase activity was visualized by p-nitrophenyl phosphate substrate reaction. During osteogenic stimulation, hMPCs proliferated toward and onto the PCL and PCL-HA scaffold surfaces and metabolic activity increased, reaching a plateau by day 15. The temporal pattern of bone-related marker molecules produced by in vitro tissue-engineered scaffold-cell constructs revealed that hMPCs differentiated better within the biomimetic matrix architecture along the osteogenic lineage.

Evaluation of ultra-thin poly(epsilon-caprolactone) films for tissue-engineered skin

Various natural and synthetic polymeric materials have been used as scaffold matrices for tissue-engineered skin. However, the commercially available skin replacement products pose problems of poor mechanical properties and immunological rejection. We have thus developed a film of 5 microm thickness, via biaxial stretching of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), as a potential matrix for living skin replacements. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using biaxially stretched PCL films as matrices for culturing human dermal fibroblasts. For this purpose, we cultured human dermal fibroblasts for 7 days on the films. Glass cover slips and polyurethane (PU) sheets were used as controls. The data from phase contrast light, confocal laser, and scanning electron microscopy suggested that biaxially stretched PCL films support the attachment and proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts. Thymidine-labeling results showed quantitatively that cell proliferation on the PCL films was superior to that on the PU samples. These results indicated that biaxially stretched PCL films supported the growth of human dermal fibroblasts and might have potential to be applied in tissue engineering a dermal equivalent or skin graft.