In vitro Research
The selective combination of the parameters involved in the regeneration process (extracellular matrix, cells, signaling molecules and blood supply) using in vitro tissue engineering techniques allows a basic science investigation of cell-cell communication, wound healing and regeneration mechanisms. With special focus on the biomaterial research, tissue like constructs (TLC) consisting of biomaterials as a extracellular matrix in combination with cell cultures (mono- or co-culture) are used in vitro to build relevant models for understanding the cellular interaction Ghanaati et al. 2011- Biomaterials in bone and soft tissue regeneration mechanisms.
TLC-models including cell lines are used to imitate different oncological events such as osteosarcoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma and the investigation of irradiation and different chemotherapeutic substances.
Booms et al. 2016
Blood supply is essential for a successful regeneration. Therefore, one of our main research aspects is the development of relevant techniques to enhance vascularization. In this context, signaling molecules such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) play a crucial role in angiogenesis and neoangiogenesis. We investigate different sources of growth factors, e.g. by creating in vitro models that combine primary endothelial cells and osteoblasts. Another autologous source of growth factors is platelet rich fibrin (PRF) which is derived from centrifuged human peripheral blood. The development of injectable PRF has shown that reducing the applied relative centrifugation force allows a higher growth factor release leading to the first introduction of the low speed centrifugation concept (LSCC) for blood concentrate.
Choukroun and Ghanaati 2017- Eur JTrauma Emerg Surg
The regenerative capacity of PRF in releasing different growth factors and cytokines makes it an autologous drug delivery system. The effect of i-PRF on neoangiogenesis was shown in vitro using a bone regeneration model.
Dohle et al 2017- JTERM