Fibrin gel as a three dimensional matrix in cardiovascular tissue engineering

Objective: In tissue engineering, three-dimensional biodegradable scaffolds are generally used as a basic structure for cell anchorage, cell prolifera tion and cell differentiation. The currently used biodegradable scaffolds i n cardiovascular tissue engineering are potentially immunogenic, they show toxic degradation and inflammatory reactions. The aim of this study is to e stablish a new three-dimensional cell culture system within cells achieve u niform distribution and quick tissue development. and with no toxic degrada tion or inflammatory reactions. Methods: Human aortic tissue is harvested f rom the ascending aorta in the operation room and worked up to pure human m yofibroblasts cultures. These human myofibroblasts cultures are suspended i n fibrinogen solution and seeded into 6-well culture plates for cell develo pment for 4 weeks and supplemented with different concentrations of aprotin in. Hydroxyproline assay and histological studies were performed to evaluat e the tissue development in these fibrin gel structures. Results: The light microscopy and the transmission electron microscopy studies for tissue dev elopment based on the three-dimensional fibrin gel structures showed homoge nous cell growth and confluent collagen production. No toxic degradation or inflammatory reactions could be detected. Furthermore, fibrin gel myofibro blasts structures dissolved within 2 days in medium without aprotinin, but medium supplemented with higher concentration of aprotinin retained the thr ee-dimensional structure and had a higher collagen content (P < 0.005) and a better tissue development. Conclusions: A three-dimensional fibrin gel st ructure can serve as a useful scaffold for tissue engineering with controll ed degradation, excellent seeding effects and good tissue development. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.