Innovative Technology to Bioengineer Human Tissue | REPROCELL

Tissues in the body are composed of different cell types that are highly organized in relation to each other. Often cells are arranged in distinct layers that enable signalling and cell-to-cell interactions. Recreation of these types of architecture will significantly evolve 3D cell culture to a new level where real tissue-like structures can be bioengineered in vitro for research and discovery. Here we present an innovative technology, that can be used to create advanced organotypic 3D models of various tissue types that more closely resemble in vivo-like conditions.

We used Reprocell Alvetex technology to bioengineer numerous unique types of co-culture tissue models. For example, a full-thickness human skin construct comprising primary dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes, is raised to the air-liquid interface to induce cornification of the upper layers. We have introduced additional cell types within this platform, such as melanocytes to create pigmented skin, sensory neurons, for skin sensitivity assays, immune cells for inflammatory responses, and created models of aged skin. Our skin models have been adopted and used by global companies developing consumer products. In another example, we developed a sub-mucosal model replicating the structure of the human intestinal wall consisting of a polarized simple epithelium, a layer of ECM proteins simulating the basement membrane, and underlying stromal tissues. This system is highly characterized and can be used for transport assays, and the inclusion of immune cells has enabled the study of irritable bowel disease exhibiting the hallmarks of such tissue pathology including inflammation, ECM deposition and remodeling, and failure of the epithelial barrier giving rise to the leaky gut phenotype. In addition, we will introduce our model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, again based on the Alvetex platform.

These organotypic models demonstrate the versatility of this technology. Creating a layered arrangement of co-cultured cells more closely simulates the true anatomical organization of cells within many tissue types. Using such constructs also provides the opportunity to control the addition of different cell types in a temporal and spatial fashion, thus building up the complexity of the model over time enabling the study of inter-cellular relationships in health and disease. Listeners to this Webinar will benefit from an overview and basic understanding of this technology, and how these human tissue equivalents provide new research tools to advance the discovery process, aid screening and testing in product development, and provide alternatives to the use of animals.
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