Reduced fibrous capsule elastic fibers from biologic ECM-enveloped CIEDs in minipigs, supported with a novel compression mechanics model.

Background: Fibrous capsules (Fb) in response to cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), including a pacemaker (P) system, can produce patient discomfort and difficulties in revision surgery due partially to their increased compressive strength, previously linked to elevated tissue fibers.

Objective: A preliminary study to quantify structural proteins, determine if biologic extracellular matrix-enveloped CIEDs (PECM) caused differential Fb properties, and to implement a realistic mechanical model.

Methods: Retrieved Fb (-P and -PECM) from minipigs were subjected to biomechanical (shear oscillation and uniaxial compression) and histological (collagen I and elastin) analyses.

Stiffness of hyaluronic acid gels containing liver extracellular matrix supports human hepatocyte function and alters cell morphology.

Tissue engineering and cell based liver therapies have utilized primary hepatocytes with limited success due to the failure of hepatocytes to maintain their phenotype in vitro. In order to overcome this challenge, hyaluronic acid (HA) cell culture substrates were formulated to closely mimic the composition and stiffness of the normal liver cellular microenvironment. The stiffness of the substrate was modulated by adjusting HA hydrogel crosslinking.

Bioengineered transplantable porcine livers with re-endothelialized vasculature.

Donor shortage remains a continued challenge in liver transplantation. Recent advances in tissue engineering have provided the possibility of creating functional liver tissues as an alternative to donor organ transplantation. Small bioengineered liver constructs have been developed, however a major challenge in achieving functional bioengineered liver in vivo is the establishment of a functional vasculature within the scaffolds.

Decellularization methods of porcine kidneys for whole organ engineering using a high-throughput system.

End-stage renal failure is a devastating disease, with donor organ transplantation as the only functional restorative treatment. The current number of donor organs meets less than one-fifth of demand, so regenerative medicine approaches have been proposed as potential therapeutic alternatives. One such approach for whole large-organ bioengineering is to combine functional renal cells with a decellularized porcine kidney scaffold.