Astrid Kupferer1,2,Sabrina Friebe1,2,Philine Jauch1,2,Sonja Kallendrusch3,Ivonne Nel4,Bahriye Aktas4,Stefan Mayr1,2
Leibniz Institute for Surface Engineering1,University of Leipzig, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, Division of Surface Physics2,HMU Health and Medical University Potsdam3,University of Leipzig, Medical Center4
Astrid Kupferer1,2,Sabrina Friebe1,2,Philine Jauch1,2,Sonja Kallendrusch3,Ivonne Nel4,Bahriye Aktas4,Stefan Mayr1,2
Leibniz Institute for Surface Engineering1,University of Leipzig, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, Division of Surface Physics2,HMU Health and Medical University Potsdam3,University of Leipzig, Medical Center4
A personalized therapy for each patient is one of the milestones in medicine. Associated with this is the organotypic culture of endogenous tissue. In this context, the extracellular matrix plays a major role, because it is unique for every part of the body. Hence, each tissue requires a specific microenvironment when cultured or grown <i>ex vivo. </i>For instance, topography and prominent chemical characteristics of the surface are crucial for protein adsorption, cell and tissue adhesion. Usually, the discrepancy between tissue demands and culture conditions results in a loss of physiological properties such as structural integrity, function, or viability of healthy tissues and tumors when the culture period exceeds seven days. This indicates that a one-size-fits-all approach of commonly used Teflon membranes is not effective for an organotypic culture. In contrast, the systematic tailoring of titania nanotube scaffolds aims to enable enhanced culture of adult human tissues <i>ex vivo </i>and preserves its structure and viability.<br/>As an example, we present long-term cultured human mamma carcinomas that are highly responsive to the underlying nanostructures. Characteristic structural features as blood vessels, glands and connective tissues that contain for instance adipocytes, fibrocytes, immune cells (like macrophages) and tumor cells show an surface-mediated preservation. In order to maintain a normal degree of proliferation, migration and apoptosis that corresponds to the endogenous state, to preserve the extracellular matrix overall, glands and bloods vessels in specific, and to observe active immune cells, we designed advanced titania nanotube scaffolds with the desired functionality.<br/>Altogether, we aim to realize a platform for organotypic tissue culture of up to several weeks, where primary cells and adult tissues are maintained in physiologic condition<i> ex vivo</i>. In particular, we aim to maintain an intact histomorphology, proper function, infiltration with immune cells and preserved physiological niches. Chemical and physical characteristics of the titania nanotube scaffolds are tunable with regard to e.g. surface morphology and topography, surface functionalization and overall conductivity. In this way, the scaffolds can also serve as a tailorable basis for primary cells and 3D bioprinted organ structures. Hence, we pave the way for reliable drug testing and personalized medicine.<br/><br/>We acknowledge the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, project EYECULTURE, as well as the Saxon State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labor and Traffic (SMWA), project NanotubeUpscaling, for funding.