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2015
Journal Article
Titel
Study of the effect of collagenous microcarriers on the vasculogenic potential of endothelial cells obtained from different sources
Abstract
The development of an efficient vascular network in tissue engineering (TE) is still a challenge, since in most cases the blood vessels formed are not fully functional (no lumen or leaking of material). In consequence, there is low rate of graft survival after implantation, caused by poor supply of oxygen and nutrients to the cells. This supply is dependent on the vessel structures, mainly formed by endothelial cells (ECs). In their role of building and remodelling blood vessels, ECs have the capability to proliferate, migrate, adhere, sprout and form vessel-like structures. In this study we want to standardize the isolation of ECs from different sources, to further determine their suitability as vascular cell type for TE, by studying the aforementioned properties when cultured on collagenous microcarriers. Two EC sources are studied: skin (human dermal microvascular endothelial cells, HDMECs) and peripheral blood (endothelial progenitor cells, EPCs). The isolation protocols are focused on obtaining a characteristic, viable and large population of cells with minimal invasion procedures to the patient. The ECs obtained are cultured in 2D conditions and then transferred to dynamic conditions on collagenous microcarriers. After 7 days of culture, sprouting assay in type I collagen is performed. Growth factors such as VEGF, FGF and Ang1 are used as pro-angiogenic factors. Additionally, these colonized microcarriers are used to re-seed the lumen of the biomatrix BioVaSc in order to provide vascular support to any cell type used for differentiation into tissue-like substitutes (e.g. hMSCS for bone substitutes).