• Werkmeister, Jerome
• Neethling, William
• Ramshaw, John

Abstract

Repair of tissue by a bio-scaffold and the addition of cells to repopulate and replace this scaffold would be expected to offer a long lasting implant that remodels into native tissue.In addition to using a suitable scaffold, stem cells are recognised as important in tissue repair and regeneration and are believed to act through mechanisms including the recruitment of cells to the area for repair.For cardiac repair, delivery and retention of sufficient cells has proved difficult.Studies have shown that the properties and composition of the scaffold on which stem cells are seeded has an effect on the behaviour of the stems cells and the type of new tissue formed.In the present study we have examined a novel tissue engineering product, CardioCel®, derived from acellular pericardium using a tissue stabilisation technology.This material has the potential to aid tissue repair in the heart, through delivery of adult mesenchymal stem cells in models of heart failure.CardioCel® is fully compatible with the human body, and the processing provides the ability to control the porosity and tissue properties.Animal studies and a Phase II human clinical trial as a cardiovascular patch have indicated the reduction of calcification post-implantation compared to other substrates. Our data show that MSC seeded CardioCel® showed excellent cell survival at 1 day through 7 days when compared with similarly seeded controls.At 7 days cells were spreading across the surface of the CardioCel®, with some showing penetration into the collagen matrix.The cells showed significant proliferation up to 14 d, which continued at a lower rate up to 28 days.New collagen synthesis associated with the MSC’s after 70 d was shown by immunohistology.The present data indicate that CardioCel® provides an ideal scaffold for delivery of stem cells.

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• surface
• phase
• porosity