Perfusion module for the co-culture of endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells for determining patho-physiological changes

摘要

Perfusion module comprises (i) at least one hollow fibers comprising a gas-and/or liquid permeable membrane, where at least a part of the luminal surface of the hollow fibers are colonized with endothelial cells and at least a part of the abluminal surface of the hollow fibers are colonized with smooth muscle cells, (ii) a housing for receiving the hollow fibers, and (iii) at least four access points, where the hollow fibers, housing and access points are configured and arranged such that an extraluminal- and intraluminal space of the hollow fibers are separately regulated with fluid. Perfusion module comprises (i) at least one hollow fibers comprising a gas-and/or liquid permeable membrane having an average pore size of 0.002-1 mm, where at least a part of the luminal surface of the hollow fibers are colonized with endothelial cells and at least a part of the abluminal surface of the hollow fibers are colonized with smooth muscle cells, (ii) a housing for receiving the hollow fibers, and (iii) at least four access points, where the hollow fibers, housing and access points are configured and arranged such that an extraluminal- and intraluminal space of the hollow fibers are separately regulated and/or controlled with fluid. Independent claims are also included for: (1) a bioreactor comprising (a) a number of perfusion module, where an individual perfusion module is arranged parallelly with fluid through-flow, (b) a fluid reservoir, (c) a gas exchanger, which is arranged such that the fluid within the fluid reservoir is provided with a predetermined amount of gas, preferably oxygen and/or carbon dioxide, and (d) a pump, which is connected to the fluid reservoir and the perfusion module, such that a pre-defined fluid flow from the fluid reservoir is maintained by the perfusion module; and (2) determining changes in the secretome of endothelial cells and/or smooth muscle cells, comprising co-culturing the endothelial- and smooth muscle cells using the perfusion module under predetermined culturing conditions, collecting the conditioned culture medium discharged from the perfusion module, and comparing the conditioned culture medium with a reference.