A novel 3D-bioreactor system for in vitro endothelialization analysis of polymer-based vascular implant structures

Abstract

Endothelialization represents a key factor for the safety and long-term clinical performance of polymer-based vascular implants. To enable a controlled in vitro evaluation of endothelialization processes in those implant structures, a novel 3D bioreactor system was designed and implemented. Such systems provide valuable insights into the interaction between biomaterials and vascular endothelial cells under physiologically relevant conditions. In this project, a 3D bioreactor platform was developed specifically for in vitro endothelialization analysis of polymerbased vascular implant structures. The system was technically refined and successfully integrated into a biological laboratory environment. The primary objective of the study was to demonstrate the feasibility, functionality, and validation of the bioreactor system for assessing endothelial cell coverage on polymer-based vascular implant constructs. To verify the functionality of the 3D bioreactor setup and to achieve homogeneous endothelial cell distribution on the luminal surface of the structures, a controlled rotation mechanism was implemented. The material comparison enabled an evaluation of their respective suitability for endothelial cell adhesion and coverage. The bioreactor was operated under physiological incubation conditions. Morphological analysis of endothelialization was performed using immunofluorescence staining. The developed 3D bioreactor offers perspectives to assess the endothelialization of scaffolds, presenting versatility in its application across diverse biomaterials and implant types.