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Both extracorporeal liver support devices and tissue engineering of liver for transplantation require the maintenance of functionality of liver cells (hepatocytes) in cell culture for a long time. One approach to achieve this is to optimize hepatocyte in vitro environment by using a scaffold with topographic structure at sub-millimeter scale which controls cell distribution. Therefore, a set of new type of titania ceramic scaffolds, containing cavities of several sizes, has been produced for deducing the best choice of cavity dimensions for culturing hepatocytes. The aim of this paper is to describe in detail the production methods and characterization of such ceramic scaffolds. Experimental production of the scaffolds consists of microfabrication of silicon templates as well as preparation and molding of titania ceramics. The templates, containing arrays of conical protrusions arranged in close-packed hexagonal order, have been achieved using microfabrication methods of photolithography and anisotropic etching in KOH at 50 degrees C. Protrusion dimensions and overall quality of the templates has been evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. The microfabricated templates have resulted in well-defined and reproducible cavities of corresponding dimensions on the titania ceramic surface after injection-molding. Alternatively, simple embossing of the plastified green ceramics with the silicon templates attached to a metal plate also creates cavities on the ceramic surface. While both methods yield good results, they have different advantages: the injection-molding provides a higher quality of imprints while embossing is quicker and less complicated, and is not limited by dimensions of specific molding equipment.

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Microporous alumina was used to develop implantable cell carriers shaped as a hollow-sphere with a central opening to allow ingrowth of vascularised tissues. The carriers were produced by suspending the ceramic raw materials in water, homogenising and dropping the resulting slurry onto a heated plate (hot plate moulding, HPM). Morphological characteristics of the cell carriers were investigated by SEM and optical microscopy. Produced carriers had an average diameter of 4.9 mm. The material was highly porous (56 +/- 8%). For in vivo testing the cell carriers were implanted into abdominal wall of Zur: SIV rats for up to 50 weeks and investigated by light microscopy, SEM and TEM. The surface of the hollow carriers was in close contact with unirritated muscle tissue; no inflammation or capsule formation was observed. Loose connective tissue had grown into the hollow cell carrier, and after prolonged implantation >20 weeks adipocytes were observed. The absence of scar tissue formation around the implant and the vitality within the cavity of the hollow carriers indicate that porous alumina may be used for cell transplantation devices.

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Biomaterials and related process engineering in order to obtain optimal surface and structural biocompatibility of implants and devices are presented. Vital-avital composites for tissue engineering, cell culture models, porous ceramics and degradable polymers are introduced as examples. Emphasis is laid on the conversion of basic research results into clinical applications and on the exchange of technologies from the non-medical into the medical field and vice versa.

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Carbon fibre-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CF-PEEK) substrates were coated with titanium by vacuum-plasma-spraying and chemically treated in 10 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution. After NaOH treatment, the specimens were immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF) containing ions in concentrations similar to those of human blood plasma. Scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and diffuse reflectance Fourier transformed-infrared spectroscopy were used to analyse the NaOH-treated VPS-Ti surface and the calcium phosphate layer formed during immersion in SBF. It was observed that a carbonate-containing calcium phosphate layer was formed on the NaOH-treated VPS-Ti surface during immersion in SBF, whereas no calcium phosphate precipitation occurred on the untreated surfaces. It is therefore concluded that vacuum-plasma-spraying with titanium and subsequent chemical modification in 10 M NaOH solution at 60 degrees C for 2 h is a suitable method for the preparation of bioactive coatings for bone ongrowth on CF-PEEK.

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Plasma activation of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) surfaces and the influence on coating formation in a supersaturated calcium phosphate solution was investigated in this study. It was observed that plasma treatment in a N2/O2 plasma had a significant effect on the wettability of the PEEK surface. The contact angle decreased from 85 degrees to 25 degrees after plasma treatment. Cell culture testing with osteoblastic cell lines showed plasma activation not to be disadvantageous to cell viability. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis was performed to characterize the chemical composition of the PEEK surfaces. It was observed that the O1s intensity increased with plasma activation time. At the C1s peak the appearance of a shoulder at higher binding energies was observed. Coating of PEEK was performed in a supersaturated calcium phosphate solution. Coating thicknesses of up to 50 microm were achieved after 24 days of immersion. Plasma activation followed by nucleation in a highly saturated hydroxyapatite solution had a positive effect on the growth rate of the layer on PEEK. Chemical analysis revealed that the coating consists of a carbonate-containing calcium phosphate.

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OBJECTIVE: We compared a rapid, subcutaneous (SQ), single-sample gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test with the standard multiple-sample, intravenous (IV) GnRH stimulation test used in the evaluation of central precocious puberty (CPP). METHODS: We evaluated 22 patients presenting with evidence of precocious puberty. GnRH (100 microg) was administered subcutaneously in the clinic setting with single serum luteinizing hormone (LH) measured 40 minutes after injection. A standard IV GnRH stimulation test was performed within 2 weeks, with serum LH obtained at 0, 20, 40, and 60 minutes. LH was assayed by immunochemiluminometric assay. RESULTS: The mean peak LH levels after IV and SQ testing were identical. A significant correlation (r = .88) was found between the LH determined by SQ stimulations and the peak LH determined by IV GnRH testing. CPP was diagnosed (LH, >/- 8 IU/L) by both SQ and IV testing in 7 of 22 patients and was excluded by both tests in 14 of 22 patients. A diagnostic discrepancy between peak IV and SQ results was seen in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that mean GnRH-stimulated LH levels from rapid SQ and standard IV testing are indistinguishable and that individual LH levels by each method are strongly correlated. A rapid SQ GnRH test is a valid tool for laboratory confirmation of CPP.

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Here, scaffolds as cell and tissue carriers are approached from an engineering point of view, emphasizing material superstructuring in the design of supports. Superstructure engineering provides optimal spatial and nutritional conditions for cell maintenance by the arrangement of structural elements (e.g. pores or fibres) so as to vary the order of cell to cell contact. This approach is illustrated in the design of several scaffolds: knitted fabrics as three-dimensional superstructures for optimized osteosynthesis implants, a new injectable open porous implant system, an angiopolar non-degradable ceramic cell carrier, and an injectable or microsurgically implantable entangled carrier system. The implications for tissue engineering are discussed.

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