Scaffold design

The supply of cells with nutrients remains a challenge in tissue engineering. A possible approach to solve this problem is the integration of a supply system into the scaffold, e.g. an additively manufactured artificial blood vessel system. The consumption of nutrients by the cells embedded in a substrate (e.g. a hydrogel) and the supply of the nutrients by a vessel system determines the nutrient concentration in the substrate.

The equilibrium concentration profile depends on the metabolic rate of the cells, the diffusivity of the nutrients in the substrate, the size of the system and the design of the vessel system. Using reactive transport equations, the performance of different vessel trees can be compared and the optimal design of a vessel system can be determined. Cells with a high metabolic rate and substrates with a low nutrient diffusivity require more complex vessel systems than tissue models with a low metabolic rate and high diffusivity. 

Services

  • Modelling of the performance of artificial blood vessel systems
  • Optimal geometric structure of vessel systems depending on size and diffusivity of the substrate and metabolic rate of the cells
  • Visualization of diffusion processes by coloured tracers
  • Mechanical properties of artificial blood vessels

Publications

  • Kabirkoohian, A., Bakhshi, H., Irani, S. et al.
    Chemical Immobilization of Carboxymethyl Chitosan on Polycaprolactone Nanofibers as Osteochondral Scaffolds.
    Appl Biochem Biotechnol 195, 3888–3899 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-022-03916-6
  • Arbab Solimani, S., Irani, S., Mohamadali, M. et al.
    Carboxymethyl Chitosan-Functionalized Polyaniline/Polyacrylonitrile Nano-Fibers for Neural Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells.
    Appl Biochem Biotechnol 195, 7638–7651 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-023-04526-6
  • Visser D., Bakhshi H., Rogg K., Fuhrmann E., Wieland F., Schenke-Layland K., Meyer W., Hartmann H.
    Green Chemistry for Biomimetic Materials: Synthesis and Electrospinning of High-Molecular-Weight Polycarbonate-Based Nonisocyanate Polyurethanes.
    ACS Omega 2022 7 (44), 39772-39781. DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c03731
  • Orafa, Z., Bakhshi, H., Arab-Ahmadi, S. et al.
    Laponite/amoxicillin-functionalized PLA nanofibrous as osteoinductive and antibacterial scaffolds.
    Sci Rep 12, 6583 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10595-0
  • Arab-Ahmadi S., Irani S., Bakhshi H., Atyabi F., Ghalandari B.
    Immobilization of carboxymethyl chitosan/laponite on polycaprolactone nanofibers as osteoinductive bone scaffolds. 
    Polymers for Advanced Technologies 2020, 32(2), 755–765. https://doi.org/10.1002/pat.5128
  • Han X., Courseaus J., Khamassi J., Nottrodt N., Engelhardt S., Jacobsen F., Bierwisch C., Meyer W., Walter T., Weisser J., Jaeger R., Bibb R., Harris R.
    Optimized vascular network by stereolithography for tissue engineered skin.
    IJB 2018, 4(2), 134. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.v4i2.134
  • Jaeger, R.; Courseau, J.
    Optimale Auslegung eines künstlichen Adersystems
    BioNanoMaterials. 16(2-3),  p. 81–86