The living chamber, an innovative and customizable 3D in vitro model for bone implant evaluation
Commonly used acronym: Living chamber
Scope of the method
- Animal health
- Human health
- Other
- Basic Research
- Translational - Applied Research
- In vitro - Ex vivo
- Human derived cells / tissues / organs
Description
- bone-cartilage unit
- 3D in vitro model
- 3D printing
- 3D Cell culture
- 3D model
- differentiation
- mesenchymal stem cell
- bone model
- in vitro 3D modelling
- Bone tissue engineering
- 3D organoid models
- differentiation
- organ-on-chip
- 3D culture
A proprietary designed lab-scale bioreactor containing a substrate for adherent cells and customized conditions, enabling the differentiation of MSCs into osteogenic lineage. The cell-substrate interaction can be assessed after prolonged 3D cell culture. Customizable and tunable to the experimental needs and cells, for example for testing bone-implants for bone-related studies (testing implant coatings, implant materials, etc.) in healthy and diseased conditions.
Standard lab-scale in vitro Eukaryotic cell culture equipment, materials and facilities.
- Internally validated
Pros, cons & Future potential
3D-environment representing better the in vivo situation. Results obtained in the Living Chamber in a perfusion set-up are superior compared to cells cultured and differentiated either onto TCP support or even 3D support. Allows the use of human cells with relevant physiological function instead of xenogeneic (i.e. animal origin) cells . Bioreactors are customizable to the needs and the intended use (size, functionalities, (parallel) testing needs). Approach enables in vitro prioritization and thus avoids iterative animal testing in so far possible.
Cell donor variability is not controllable in this methods, similarly at what is observed for other established methods. While this reflects a clinical reality, for the sake of reproducibility the initial testing may be done using immortalized modified MSC lines, allowing a robust evaluation of the tested parameters before initiating testing with primary cells.
Modification can easily be done as the bioreactor and cell support is customizable to the desired experimental needs.
Cartilage repair research, in vitro cell expansion, organoid culture, production of biologicals, etc.
References, associated documents and other information
Contact person
Anaïs SchaschkowOrganisations
AntleronBio-incubator Leuven
Belgium
Flemish Region
