Alex Bischoff, Connor Dodge, Sarah Livingston, Sterling Rosqvist, Tomonori Baba, Kyle Larsen,
Tyler Hendricks, and Jason Griggs, Brigham Young University
Life Sciences
Today, the most common clinical practice for atherosclerotic disease of the peripheral arteries is the autologous transplant of the patient’s living veins. The newest research focuses on recreating arteries from a patient’s own cells in vitro, and then implanting with no immunological effects and having every functional property of a living artery. We are working on the scalable rendering of cell-seeded vascular constructs with rapid prototyping machines or 3D printers. Gabor Forgacs Ph.D. and other researchers have pioneered the organ printing field. To date, these scientists have managed to build 3-dimensional scaffolds of organs and vasculature while simultaneously seeding living cells. We are using a 3D printer to print modified alginate gels in vascular shapes. Using alginate gels as scaffolds, cells can be added to the shapes resembling the multilayered artery tubules, and proliferate and differentiate to form functional arteries. Smooth muscle and endothelial cells have been shown to secrete and reform the extracellular matrix of a vessel. To test functionality we will compare tensile strength with Young’s modulus models, test for blood contacting with thrombogenicity measurements in partnership with Thrombodyne, Inc., ensure synchronization of smooth muscle contractions, and eventually perform autologous animal tests to identify signs of immunogenic rejection. Our proposed method for the development of a living artery is to assemble a three layered cylindrical shape, supported by a lyophilized alginate gel structure, with the outside layer being a collagen-based film, the tunica media comprised of smooth muscle cell droplets, and a layer of endothelial cells to form the lumen. The hypothesis is that the cells will attach to the modified alginate gel and proliferate as the alginate degrades. As the cells grow a subendothelial layer will form between the cell layers.