Thesis
Development of a vascular cell laden construct : towards an artificial artery
- Creator
- Rights statement
- Awarding institution
- University of Strathclyde
- Date of award
- 2017
- Thesis identifier
- T14847
- Person Identifier (Local)
- 201657308
- Qualification Level
- Qualification Name
- Department, School or Faculty
- Abstract
- Development of readily available vasculature and small diameter vessels remains a keychallenge in tissue engineering. In recent years, a range of 3D biofabrication methods havebeen developed to create tubular cell-laden hydrogel structures that attempt to mimic keyfeatures of native mammalian vessels. The technique of rapid casting via subtractive methodsis a particularly promising approach, as it enables the easy fabrication of such constructswithout the need for the use of complex equipment. However, this method remains to be fullycharacterised before its potential for use in the development of tissue-engineered vasculaturecan be assessed.In this study various combinations of alginate and gelatin concentrations were explored inorder to fabricate tubular constructs that mimic vessels via the rapid casting fabricationmethod. The dimensions of the resultant constructs were measured to provide an indication ofthe repeatability of the fabrication method and to identify the optimal fabrication conditions.The impact of immersion in physiological solution on these dimensions was then assessed.Finally, those scaffolds that were shown to be stable, and which could support flow within an invitro perfusion system, were taken forward for assessment for preliminary investigation of theirmechanical properties and their biocompatibility with endothelial cells.The rapid casting fabrication method was shown to be capable of producing artery mimics ofconsistent length with a range of lumen sizes (0.7 – 4.36mm). Using the same method, it wasachievable to decrease the wall thickness of vessels by reducing the gel dipping from 3 sec to 1sec. Although tubular structures could be produced, the gels showed a low capacity to maintaincell viability in comparison to a conventional tissue culture method.The study results indicate that alginate-gelatin tubular constructs with controllable dimensionsand stability can be reliably produced via a simple rapid casting method. With furtheroptimization, this technique may represent a useful alternative to more complex methods forfabrication of artificial arteries.
- Advisor / supervisor
- McCormick, Christopher
- Resource Type
- Note
- Previously held under moratorium from 23 May 2018 until 16 February 2022
- DOI
- Date Created
- 2017
- Former identifier
- 9912597991402996
Relazioni
Articoli
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File | 2021-07-02 | University of Strathclyde |