Smadar Cohen - Ben Gurion University of the Negev (Sub-project 6)
Department of Biotechnology Engineering
The Marcus Family Campus, Bldg 39, Rm 222
Ben Gurion University of the Negev
Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
Phone: +972 8 6461798
FAX: +972 8 6472915
e-Mail: scohen@bgu.ac.il
Website: http://www.bgu.ac.il/BioTech/
Porous alginate scaffolds for cell culture and transplantation will be developed with porosity and mechanical strength to match the specific needs of the seeded cells. We aim at high porous matrix to enable high cell density. The scaffold will be prepared by a freeze-dry technique we developed before, which enables us to adapt the method to the needs of the proposed objectives with a strict control over porosity and pore size characterized by electron microscopy. To enable a simultaneous controlled release from these porous matrices, tiny (<3 mm in diameter) controlled release microspheres will be integrated into the porous matrix. The experience with microspheres will help to develop the technique to deliver therapeutic molecules.
Furthermore, bioengineering of vascularized cardiac tissue within the porous scaffolds will be performed. Cardiac cells (a combination of endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts and cardiac myocytes, primary or stem cell derivates) will be seeded within the alginate scaffolds at physiological relevant cell density and be cultivated in the specialized perfusion bioreactor developed by our group.