Professor Heike Mertsching and her team of researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB), Germany, have succesfully seeded human liver cells to a piece of pig intestine to use as a 3D model in the early stages of drug development.
To build up test systems, a dedicated, PC-controlled bioreactor was developed in which the re-seeded matrix is perfused with fresh medium via the arterial inflow and the spent medium and degradation products are transported away via the venous reflux.
The reseeding of the vascularized matrix with adult stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells results in a differentiation of the cells into endothelial cells whilst retaining their functionality (FDG-PET, fluoro-desoxyglucose positron emission tomography) and vitality (live/dead assay).
The multilayer, organ-like test systems in these bioreactors provide data which are very applicable to the in vivo situation. The optimal supply resulting from the vascular structures also opens up the possibility of cultivating the artificial tissues over long periods and thus investigating the long-term effects of chemicals or pharmaceuticals.
More information via the group's webpage
and here.
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