@article{AlepeeBahinskiDaneshianetal.2014, author = {Alepee, Natalie and Bahinski, Anthony and Daneshian, Mardas and De Weyer, Bart and Fritsche, Ellen and Goldberg, Alan and Hansmann, Jan and Hartung, Thomas and Haycock, John and Hogberg, Helena T. and Hoelting, Lisa and Kelm, Jens M. and Kadereit, Suzanne and McVey, Emily and Landsiedel, Robert and Leist, Marcel and L{\"u}bberstedt, Marc and Noor, Fozia and Pellevoisin, Christian and Petersohn, Dirk and Pfannenbecker, Uwe and Reisinger, Kerstin and Ramirez, Tzutzuy and Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara and Sch{\"a}fer-Korting, Monika and Zeilinger, Katrin and Zurich, Marie-Gabriele}, title = {State-of-the-Art of 3D Cultures (Organs-on-a-Chip) in Safety Testing and Pathophysiology}, series = {ALTEX - Alternatives to Animal Experimentation}, volume = {31}, journal = {ALTEX - Alternatives to Animal Experimentation}, number = {4}, doi = {2014; http://dx.doi.org/10.14573/altex1406111}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-117826}, pages = {441-477}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Integrated approaches using different in vitro methods in combination with bioinformatics can (i) increase the success rate and speed of drug development; (ii) improve the accuracy of toxicological risk assessment; and (iii) increase our understanding of disease. Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models are important building blocks of this strategy which has emerged during the last years. The majority of these models are organotypic, i.e., they aim to reproduce major functions of an organ or organ system. This implies in many cases that more than one cell type forms the 3D structure, and often matrix elements play an important role. This review summarizes the state of the art concerning commonalities of the different models. For instance, the theory of mass transport/metabolite exchange in 3D systems and the special analytical requirements for test endpoints in organotypic cultures are discussed in detail. In the next part, 3D model systems for selected organs liver, lung, skin, brain are presented and characterized in dedicated chapters. Also, 3D approaches to the modeling of tumors are presented and discussed. All chapters give a historical background, illustrate the large variety of approaches, and highlight up- and downsides as well as specific requirements. Moreover, they refer to the application in disease modeling, drug discovery and safety assessment. Finally, consensus recommendations indicate a roadmap for the successful implementation of 3D models in routine screening. It is expected that the use of such models will accelerate progress by reducing error rates and wrong predictions from compound testing.}, language = {en} } @article{HindererShenRinguetteetal.2015, author = {Hinderer, Svenja and Shen, Nian and Ringuette, L{\´e}a-Jeanne and Hansmann, Jan and Reinhardt, Dieter P and Brucker, Sara Y and Davis, Elaine C and Schenke-Layland, Katja}, title = {In vitro elastogenesis: instructing human vascular smooth muscle cells to generate an elastic fiber-containing extracellular matrix scaffold}, series = {Biomedical Materials}, volume = {10}, journal = {Biomedical Materials}, number = {3}, doi = {10.1088/1748-6041/10/3/034102}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-254074}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Elastic fibers are essential for the proper function of organs including cardiovascular tissues such as heart valves and blood vessels. Although (tropo)elastin production in a tissue-engineered construct has previously been described, the assembly to functional elastic fibers in vitro using human cells has been highly challenging. In the present study, we seeded primary isolated human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) onto 3D electrospun scaffolds and exposed them to defined laminar shear stress using a customized bioreactor system. Increased elastin expression followed by elastin deposition onto the electrospun scaffolds, as well as on newly formed fibers, was observed after six days. Most interestingly, we identified the successful deposition of elastogenesis-associated proteins, including fibrillin-1 and -2, fibulin-4 and -5, fibronectin, elastin microfibril interface located protein 1 (EMILIN-1) and lysyl oxidase (LOX) within our engineered constructs. Ultrastructural analyses revealed a developing extracellular matrix (ECM) similar to native human fetal tissue, which is composed of collagens, microfibrils and elastin. To conclude, the combination of a novel dynamic flow bioreactor and an electrospun hybrid polymer scaffold allowed the production and assembly of an elastic fiber-containing ECM.}, language = {en} } @article{BrendtkeWiehlGroeberetal.2016, author = {Brendtke, Rico and Wiehl, Michael and Groeber, Florian and Schwarz, Thomas and Walles, Heike and Hansmann, Jan}, title = {Feasibility Study on a Microwave-Based Sensor for Measuring Hydration Level Using Human Skin Models}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {11}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, number = {4}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0153145}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-179934}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Tissue dehydration results in three major types of exsiccosis—hyper-, hypo-, or isonatraemia. All three types entail alterations of salt concentrations leading to impaired biochemical processes, and can finally cause severe morbidity. The aim of our study was to demonstrate the feasibility of a microwave-based sensor technology for the non-invasive measurement of the hydration status. Electromagnetic waves at high frequencies interact with molecules, especially water. Hence, if a sample contains free water molecules, this can be detected in a reflected microwave signal. To develop the sensor system, human three-dimensional skin equivalents were instituted as a standardized test platform mimicking reproducible exsiccosis scenarios. Therefore, skin equivalents with a specific hydration and density of matrix components were generated and microwave measurements were performed. Hydration-specific spectra allowed deriving the hydration state of the skin models. A further advantage of the skin equivalents was the characterization of the impact of distinct skin components on the measured signals to investigate mechanisms of signal generation. The results demonstrate the feasibility of a non-invasive microwave-based hydration sensor technology. The sensor bears potential to be integrated in a wearable medical device for personal health monitoring.}, language = {en} } @article{GroeberEngelhardtLangeetal.2016, author = {Groeber, Florian and Engelhardt, Lisa and Lange, Julia and Kurdyn, Szymon and Schmid, Freia F. and R{\"u}cker, Christoph and Mielke, Stephan and Walles, Heike and Hansmann, Jan}, title = {A First Vascularized Skin Equivalent as an Alternative to Animal Experimentation}, series = {ALTEX - Alternatives to Animal Experimentation}, volume = {33}, journal = {ALTEX - Alternatives to Animal Experimentation}, number = {4}, doi = {10.14573/altex.1604041}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-164438}, pages = {415-422}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Tissue-engineered skin equivalents mimic key aspects of the human skin, and can thus be employed as wound coverage for large skin defects or as in vitro test systems as an alternative to animal models. However, current skin equivalents lack a functional vasculature limiting clinical and research applications. This study demonstrates the generation of a vascularized skin equivalent with a perfused vascular network by combining a biological vascularized scaffold (BioVaSc) based on a decellularized segment of a porcine jejunum and a tailored bioreactor system. Briefly, the BioVaSc was seeded with human fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and human microvascular endothelial cells. After 14 days at the air-liquid interface, hematoxylin \& eosin and immunohistological staining revealed a specific histological architecture representative of the human dermis and epidermis including a papillary-like architecture at the dermal-epidermal-junction. The formation of the skin barrier was measured non-destructively using impedance spectroscopy. Additionally, endothelial cells lined the walls of the formed vessels that could be perfused with a physiological volume flow. Due to the presence of a complex in-vivo-like vasculature, the here shown skin equivalent has the potential for skin grafting and represents a sophisticated in vitro model for dermatological research.}, language = {en} } @article{NietzerBaurSieberetal.2016, author = {Nietzer, Sarah and Baur, Florentin and Sieber, Stefan and Hansmann, Jan and Schwarz, Thomas and Stoffer, Carolin and H{\"a}fner, Heide and Gasser, Martin and Waaga-Gasser, Ana Maria and Walles, Heike and Dandekar, Gudrun}, title = {Mimicking metastases including tumor stroma: a new technique to generate a three-dimensional colorectal cancer model based on a biological decellularized intestinal scaffold}, series = {Tissue Engineering Part C-Methods}, volume = {22}, journal = {Tissue Engineering Part C-Methods}, number = {7}, doi = {10.1089/ten.tec.2015.0557}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-188202}, pages = {621-635}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Tumor models based on cancer cell lines cultured two-dimensionally (2D) on plastic lack histological complexity and functionality compared to the native microenvironment. Xenogenic mouse tumor models display higher complexity but often do not predict human drug responses accurately due to species-specific differences. We present here a three-dimensional (3D) in vitro colon cancer model based on a biological scaffold derived from decellularized porcine jejunum (small intestine submucosa+mucosa, SISmuc). Two different cell lines were used in monoculture or in coculture with primary fibroblasts. After 14 days of culture, we demonstrated a close contact of human Caco2 colon cancer cells with the preserved basement membrane on an ultrastructural level as well as morphological characteristics of a well-differentiated epithelium. To generate a tissue-engineered tumor model, we chose human SW480 colon cancer cells, a reportedly malignant cell line. Malignant characteristics were confirmed in 2D cell culture: SW480 cells showed higher vimentin and lower E-cadherin expression than Caco2 cells. In contrast to Caco2, SW480 cells displayed cancerous characteristics such as delocalized E-cadherin and nuclear location of beta-catenin in a subset of cells. One central drawback of 2D cultures-especially in consideration of drug testing-is their artificially high proliferation. In our 3D tissue-engineered tumor model, both cell lines showed decreased numbers of proliferating cells, thus correlating more precisely with observations of primary colon cancer in all stages (UICC I-IV). Moreover, vimentin decreased in SW480 colon cancer cells, indicating a mesenchymal to epithelial transition process, attributed to metastasis formation. Only SW480 cells cocultured with fibroblasts induced the formation of tumor-like aggregates surrounded by fibroblasts, whereas in Caco2 cocultures, a separate Caco2 cell layer was formed separated from the fibroblast compartment beneath. To foster tissue generation, a bioreactor was constructed for dynamic culture approaches. This induced a close tissue-like association of cultured tumor cells with fibroblasts reflecting tumor biopsies. Therapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was effective only in 3D coculture. In conclusion, our 3D tumor model reflects human tissue-related tumor characteristics, including lower tumor cell proliferation. It is now available for drug testing in metastatic context-especially for substances targeting tumor-stroma interactions.}, language = {en} } @article{JannaschWeigelEngelhardtetal.2017, author = {Jannasch, Maren and Weigel, Tobias and Engelhardt, Lisa and Wiezoreck, Judith and Gaetzner, Sabine and Walles, Heike and Schmitz, Tobias and Hansmann, Jan}, title = {\({In}\) \({vitro}\) chemotaxis and tissue remodeling assays quantitatively characterize foreign body reaction}, series = {ALTEX - Alternatives to Animal Experimentation}, volume = {34}, journal = {ALTEX - Alternatives to Animal Experimentation}, number = {2}, doi = {10.14573/altex.1610071}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-172080}, pages = {253-266}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Surgical implantation of a biomaterial triggers foreign-body-induced fibrous encapsulation. Two major mechanisms of this complex physiological process are (I) chemotaxis of fibroblasts from surrounding tissue to the implant region, followed by (II) tissue remodeling. As an alternative to animal studies, we here propose a process-aligned \({in}\) \({vitro}\) test platform to investigate the material dependency of fibroblast chemotaxis and tissue remodeling mediated by material-resident macrophages. Embedded in a biomimetic three-dimensional collagen hydrogel, chemotaxis of fibroblasts in the direction of macrophage-material-conditioned cell culture supernatant was analyzed by live cell imaging. A combination of statistical analysis with a complementary parameterized random walk model allowed quantitative and qualitative characterization of the cellular walk process. We thereby identified an increasing macrophage-mediated chemotactic potential ranking of biomaterials from glass over polytetrafluorethylene to titanium. To address long-term effects of biomaterial-resident macrophages on fibroblasts in a three-dimensional microenvironment, we further studied tissue remodeling by applying macrophage-material-conditioned medium on fibrous \({in}\) \({vitro}\) tissue models. A high correlation of the \({in}\) \({vitro}\) tissue model to state of the art \({in}\) \({vivo}\) study data was found. Titanium exhibited a significantly lower tissue remodeling capacity compared to polytetrafluorethylene. With this approach, we identified a material dependency of both chemotaxis and tissue remodeling processes, strengthening knowledge on their specific contribution to the foreign body reaction.}, language = {en} } @article{JannaschGaetznerWeigeletal.2017, author = {Jannasch, Maren and Gaetzner, Sabine and Weigel, Tobias and Walles, Heike and Schmitz, Tobias and Hansmann, Jan}, title = {A comparative multi-parametric in vitro model identifies the power of test conditions to predict the fibrotic tendency of a biomaterial}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {7}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, number = {1689}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-017-01584-9}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-170908}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Despite growing effort to advance materials towards a low fibrotic progression, all implants elicit adverse tissue responses. Pre-clinical biomaterial assessment relies on animals testing, which can be complemented by in vitro tests to address the Russell and Burch's 3R aspect of reducing animal burden. However, a poor correlation between in vitro and in vivo biomaterial assessments confirms a need for suitable in vitro biomaterial tests. The aim of the study was to identify a test setting, which is predictive and might be time- and cost-efficient. We demonstrated how sensitive in vitro biomaterial assessment based on human primary macrophages depends on test conditions. Moreover, possible clinical scenarios such as lipopolysaccharide contamination, contact to autologous blood plasma, and presence of IL-4 in an immune niche influence the outcome of a biomaterial ranking. Nevertheless, by using glass, titanium, polytetrafluorethylene, silicone, and polyethylene representing a specific material-induced fibrotic response and by comparison to literature data, we were able to identify a test condition that provides a high correlation to state-of-the-art in vivo studies. Most important, biomaterial ranking obtained under native plasma test conditions showed a high predictive accuracy compared to in vivo assessments, strengthening a biomimetic three-dimensional in vitro test platform.}, language = {en} } @article{SchmidTarauRossietal.2018, author = {Schmid, Richard and Tarau, Ioana-Sandra and Rossi, Angela and Leonhardt, Stefan and Schwarz, Thomas and Schuerlein, Sebastian and Lotz, Christian and Hansmann, Jan}, title = {In Vivo-Like Culture Conditions in a Bioreactor Facilitate Improved Tissue Quality in Corneal Storage}, series = {Biotechnology Journal}, volume = {13}, journal = {Biotechnology Journal}, number = {1,1700344}, doi = {10.1002/biot.201700344}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-228620}, pages = {1-7}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The cornea is the most-transplanted tissue worldwide. However, the availability and quality of grafts are limited due to the current methods of corneal storage. In this study, a dynamic bioreactor system is employed to enable the control of intraocular pressure and the culture at the air-liquid interface. Thereby, in vivo-like storage conditions are achieved. Different media combinations for endothelium and epithelium are tested in standard and dynamic conditions to enhance the viability of the tissue. In contrast to culture conditions used in eye banks, the combination of the bioreactor and biochrom medium 1 allows to preserve the corneal endothelium and the epithelium. Assessment of transparency, swelling, and the trans-epithelial-electrical-resistance (TEER) strengthens the impact of the in vivo-like tissue culture. For example, compared to corneas stored under static conditions, significantly lower optical densities and significantly higher TEER values were measured (p-value <0.05). Furthermore, healing of epithelial defects is enabled in the bioreactor, characterized by re-epithelialization and initiated stromal regeneration. Based on the obtained results, an easy-to-use 3D-printed bioreactor composed of only two parts was derived to translate the technology from the laboratory to the eye banks. This optimized bioreactor facilitates noninvasive microscopic monitoring. The improved storage conditions ameliorate the quality of corneal grafts and the storage time in the eye banks to increase availability and reduce re-grafting.}, language = {en} } @article{WeigelSchmitzPfisteretal.2018, author = {Weigel, Tobias and Schmitz, Tobias and Pfister, Tobias and Gaetzner, Sabine and Jannasch, Maren and Al-Hijailan, Reem and Sch{\"u}rlein, Sebastian and Suliman, Salwa and Mustafa, Kamal and Hansmann, Jan}, title = {A three-dimensional hybrid pacemaker electrode seamlessly integrates into engineered, functional human cardiac tissue in vitro}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {8}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, number = {14545}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-018-32790-8}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-177368}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Pacemaker systems are an essential tool for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, the immune system's natural response to a foreign body results in the encapsulation of a pacemaker electrode and an impaired energy efficiency by increasing the excitation threshold. The integration of the electrode into the tissue is affected by implant properties such as size, mechanical flexibility, shape, and dimensionality. Three-dimensional, tissue-like electrode scaffolds render an alternative to currently used planar metal electrodes. Based on a modified electrospinning process and a high temperature treatment, a conductive, porous fiber scaffold was fabricated. The electrical and immunological properties of this 3D electrode were compared to 2D TiN electrodes. An increased surface of the fiber electrode compared to the planar 2D electrode, showed an enhanced electrical performance. Moreover, the migration of cells into the 3D construct was observed and a lower inflammatory response was induced. After early and late in vivo host response evaluation subcutaneously, the 3D fiber scaffold showed no adverse foreign body response. By embedding the 3D fiber scaffold in human cardiomyocytes, a tissue-electrode hybrid was generated that facilitates a high regenerative capacity and a low risk of fibrosis. This hybrid was implanted onto a spontaneously beating, tissue-engineered human cardiac patch to investigate if a seamless electronic-tissue interface is generated. The fusion of this hybrid electrode with a cardiac patch resulted in a mechanical stable and electrical excitable unit. Thereby, the feasibility of a seamless tissue-electrode interface was proven.}, language = {en} } @article{SchwedhelmZdziebloAppeltMenzeletal.2019, author = {Schwedhelm, Ivo and Zdzieblo, Daniela and Appelt-Menzel, Antje and Berger, Constantin and Schmitz, Tobias and Schuldt, Bernhard and Franke, Andre and M{\"u}ller, Franz-Josef and Pless, Ole and Schwarz, Thomas and Wiedemann, Philipp and Walles, Heike and Hansmann, Jan}, title = {Automated real-time monitoring of human pluripotent stem cell aggregation in stirred tank reactors}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {9}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-019-48814-w}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-202649}, pages = {12297}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The culture of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) at large scale becomes feasible with the aid of scalable suspension setups in continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTRs). Innovative monitoring options and emerging automated process control strategies allow for the necessary highly defined culture conditions. Next to standard process characteristics such as oxygen consumption, pH, and metabolite turnover, a reproducible and steady formation of hiPSC aggregates is vital for process scalability. In this regard, we developed a hiPSC-specific suspension culture unit consisting of a fully monitored CSTR system integrated into a custom-designed and fully automated incubator. As a step towards cost-effective hiPSC suspension culture and to pave the way for flexibility at a large scale, we constructed and utilized tailored miniature CSTRs that are largely made from three-dimensional (3D) printed polylactic acid (PLA) filament, which is a low-cost material used in fused deposition modelling. Further, the monitoring tool for hiPSC suspension cultures utilizes in situ microscopic imaging to visualize hiPSC aggregation in real-time to a statistically significant degree while omitting the need for time-intensive sampling. Suitability of our culture unit, especially concerning the developed hiPSC-specific CSTR system, was proven by demonstrating pluripotency of CSTR-cultured hiPSCs at RNA (including PluriTest) and protein level.}, language = {en} }