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Published on: March 8, 2011
Developing a biohybrid lung - sufficient endothelialization of poly-4-methly-1-pentene gas exchange hollow-fiber
Bettina Wiegmann1, Heide von Seggern2, Klaus Höffler3
1Department for Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs, Department for Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Germany; Member of the German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany; REBIRTH-Cluster of Excellence, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Abstract:
Working towards establishing a biohybrid lung with optimized hemocompatibility, this study analyzed the feasibility of establishing flow-resistant endothelium on heparin/albumin coated poly-4-methly-1-pentene hollow fiber gas exchange membranes (PMP-HFs). The seeding efficiency and proliferation of human cord blood derived endothelial cells (HCBEC) on PMP-HFs were analyzed under static conditions by WST-8 cell proliferation assay and fluorescence microscopy. The HCBEC monolayer integrity under different flow conditions was also assessed. Endothelial-specific phenotype verification, expression activation levels and thrombogenic state markers were quantified by real-time RT-PCR for cell-to-PMP-HF contact under static and dynamic conditions. The results demonstrated the feasibility of establishing a viable, confluent, and flow-resistant endothelial monolayer on the blood-contact surface of PMP-HFs, which maintained a physiological response to TNFα-stimulation and flow conditions. The endothelial phenotype, expression levels of adhesion molecules and thrombogenic state markers were unaffected by cell-to-PMP-HFs contact. These results represent a significant step towards establishing a biohybrid lung.
