3-Dimensional Engineered Tissue - Isis Project No 1088
Researchers at the Department of Engineering Science have developed a nutrient circulation and scaffold system for 3-dimensional bulky tissue culture.
Engineering tissue involves the seeding of appropriate cells in to a scaffold to form a bio-construct or matrix. The Oxford invention comprises of systems of capillaries made of semi permeable membranes where pore size is sufficiently small to keep cells from leaving the system. The capillary network is embedded within the scaffold made from biopolymers or synthetic polymers; cells attach to these scaffolds, are serviced by the capillaries and grow to form tissue.
Figures 1 & 2 are SEM pictures of rat bone marrow fibroblastic cells grown in perfused hollow fibre bioreactors. Cell growth and tissue formation are significantly higher than the control without the membrane capillary perfusion.
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Figure 1 |
Figure 2 |
The Oxford Invention
The invention employs biodegradable porous membrane capillaries to mimic blood capillary network in the natural tissue. No other engineered tissue currently employs a system of capillaries that deliver nutrients and remove metabolic waste deep inside and tissue growth is no longer governed by diffusion of nutrients from outside the scaffold. Biodegradation of the capillary membrane is a useful feature because as time progresses the pores will widen allowing more nutrients in and waste out allowing tissue of greater density to be grown. As the tissue becomes bulkier, epithelial cells can be introduced in to the capillaries to promote blood vessel formation. This invention enables the culture of 3-dimensional tissues opening the possibility of growing more complex structures (such as complete organs).
Commercial Opportunity and Patent Status
Isis Innovation Ltd has filed a patent application on this technology and is interested in hearing from companies wishing to licence this technology.
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Figure 3 |
Keywords
tissue engineering, tissue culture, scafford, membrane capillaries,
capillaries, bio-construct , semi-permeable membranes, matrix
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