Self-contained Circulation System for Whole Blood Perfusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circulation systems for in vitro tissue culture are limited in their ability to support long-term culture using whole blood due to clotting phenomena and lack of a natural blood tissue barrier, which is essential for active transport and signaling.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained circulation system with a capillary growth section, directional pumping device, and transport channels that mimic physiological blood perfusion, allowing for the formation of blood capillaries and endothelial cell layers to support nutrient exchange and maintain tissues with whole blood circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If technical perfusion systems based on membranes, hollow fibres or networks of micro channels are used, then efficient liquid perfusion is achieved, but clotting phenomena occur and the natural blood tissue barrier is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an intermediary component - the endothelial cell layer - that lines the micro channels and hollow fibres. This cellular barrier mediates between the technical perfusion system and the blood, preventing direct contact between blood and synthetic surfaces that cause clotting, while still allowing efficient nutrient and waste exchange. The endothelial cells act as a biocompatible interface that maintains both perfusion efficiency and blood circulation stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines synthetic components (membranes, hollow fibres, micro channels) with biological components (endothelial cell layers) to create a composite structure. This composite approach allows the synthetic framework to provide structural integrity and flow paths while the biological layer provides blood compatibility and natural barrier functions, resolving the contradiction between efficient perfusion and clotting prevention.
2Reliability
If synthetic or biological matrices are lined with endothelial cells to provide natural blood tissue barrier, then active transport and signaling are enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The endothelial cell layer performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the natural blood tissue barrier for active transport, enables signaling between tissue and capillary network, prevents clotting, and maintains efficient perfusion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing device complexity while achieving reliable blood tissue barrier function.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of complexifying the entire system, the invention applies endothelial cell lining only where it is most needed - at the interfaces between blood flow and tissue culture areas. This localized application of the biological barrier provides the necessary blood tissue barrier function without unnecessarily increasing overall device complexity throughout the entire system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables long-term tissue culture by emulating natural blood perfusion, allowing for the formation of capillaries and endothelial cell layers, thereby supporting nutrient exchange and maintaining tissues with whole blood circulation, enhancing the viability and functionality of tissues and organoids.
Implementation Method 1
Song and co-workers developed a micro circulatory support to culture endothelial cells under defined shear stresses
Implementation Method 2
This allows for active transport through the cell layer, as well as for signalling from the tissue into the capillary network
Data Source
AI summary
A self-contained circulation system, which supports the formation of capillaries in capillary growth sections and allows the formation of micro organoids and/or micro tissue sections for monitoring the effect of one or more test compounds and determining efficacy, side-effects, biosafety, metabolites, mode of action or organ regeneration as well as methods of establishing such micro organoids and/or micro tissue in the self-contained circulation system.