Hundreds of thousands of burn victims, diabetic ulcer suffers, and other non-healing wound patients are treated each year. In reconstructive surgery or burn management, substitution of the skin is often necessary. In addition to traditional approaches such as split or full-thickness skin grafts, tissue flaps and free-tissue transfers, skin tissue engineering in vitro or in vivo has been developing in recent decades. It applies the principles and methods of both engineering and life sciences toward the development of substitutes to restore and maintain skin structure and function.
To improve mass transport and nutrient exchange, 3-D in vitro experiments have shown an increase in cell viability and function within media perfused cell-seeded scaffolds compared to static controls [1]. In addition, an air/media interface has been shown to improve co-culture and development of epithelial tissue.
BISS is developing bioreactors that can apply oscillatory tension with an air/media interface.
Physiologic Requirements: | BISS DermiGen Solutions: |
---|---|
Convective Nutrient Transport | Perfusion Capabilities |
Dynamic & Static Tension | Stimulator & Mechanical Grips |
Air/Media Interface | Unique Chamber Design |
Native Physiological Structure & Function | Biomimetic in vitro Environment |
The DermiGen architecture provides a physiologic support system that enhances metabolic conditions for cell growth and maintenance in a 3-D environment. Physiologic force and displacement parameters are feedback-controlled for culture reproducibility. The flexible hardware and computer control systems allow for the development of a wide variety of automated experimental protocols with varying levels of complexity (frequency, force magnitude and application profile) and can accommodate samples up to 60mm in gauge length.
1. Porter B.D. et al. Biomaterials. 2007. 28(15):2525-33.