From the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
ASAIO J. 2010 May-Jun;56(3):228-31. doi: 10.1097/MAT.0b013e3181cf3bdd.
Currently, one approach to tissue engineering has been to develop in vitro conditions to fabricate functional cardiovascular structures such as heart valves before final implantation. In vivo conditions are simulated using a bioreactor system that supplies cells with oxygen and culture media while providing mechanical stimulation to promote tissue maturation. In our experiment, we developed a novel combined optical monitoring and conditioning device. The entire system is made of acrylic glass and is completely transparent. The bioreactor is connected to an air-driven respirator pump, and the cell culture medium continuously circulates through a closed-loop system. By adjusting stroke volume, stroke rate, and inspiration/expiration time of the ventilator, the system allows various pulsatile flows and different levels of pressure. Our optical monitoring and conditioning device provides a sterile environment, mechanical stimulation, and optical monitoring for the in vitro maturation of a tissue-engineered heart valve. With the camera module attached, tissue-engineered valves can be observed during the entire in vitro phase. This setting helps to find the optimal dynamic conditions for tissue-engineered heart valves to mature by adjusting flow and pressure conditions to provide physiological opening and closing behavior of the heart valve construct.
目前，组织工程学的一种方法是在最终植入前，开发体外条件来制造功能性心血管结构，如心脏瓣膜。使用生物反应器系统模拟体内条件，该系统为细胞提供氧气和培养基，同时提供机械刺激以促进组织成熟。在我们的实验中，我们开发了一种新型的组合式光学监测和调节装置。整个系统由亚克力玻璃制成，完全透明。生物反应器与气动呼吸机泵相连，细胞培养液通过闭环系统不断循环。通过调整呼吸机的冲程容积、冲程频率和吸气/呼气时间，系统可以实现各种脉动流和不同压力水平。我们的光学监测和调节装置为组织工程心脏瓣膜的体外成熟提供了无菌环境、机械刺激和光学监测。通过连接摄像模块，可以在整个体外阶段观察组织工程瓣膜。通过调整流量和压力条件，为心脏瓣膜结构提供生理性的开闭行为，这种设置有助于找到组织工程心脏瓣膜成熟的最佳动态条件。
