@article {3124,
	title = {Decellularized Human Liver Is Too Heterogeneous for Designing a Generic Extracellular Matrix Mimic Hepatic Scaffold.},
	journal = {Artificial Organs},
	year = {2017},
	month = {05/2017},
	abstract = {<p class="rtejustify">Decellularized human livers are considered the\&nbsp;perfect extracellular matrix (ECM) surrogate because both three-dimensional architecture and biological features of the hepatic microenvironment are thought to be preserved. However, donor human livers are in chronically short supply, both for transplantation or as decellularized scaffolds, and will become even scarcer as life expectancy increases. It is hence of interest to determine the structural and biochemical properties of human hepatic ECM to derive design criteria for engineering biomimetic scaffolds. The intention of this work was to obtain quantitative design specifications for fabricating scaffolds for hepatic tissue engineering using human livers as a template. To this end, hepatic samples from five patients scheduled for hepatic resection were decellularized using a protocol shown to reproducibly conserve matrix composition and microstructure in porcine livers. The decellularization outcome was evaluated through histological and quantitative image analyses to evaluate cell removal, protein, and glycosaminoglycan content per unit area. Applying the same decellularization protocol to human liver samples obtained from five different patients yielded five different outcomes. Only one liver out of five was completely decellularized, while the other four showed different levels of remaining cells and matrix. Moreover, protein and glycosaminoglycan content per unit area after decellularization were also found to be patient- (or donor-) dependent. This donor-to-donor variability of human livers thus precludes their use as templates for engineering a generic "one-size fits all" ECM-mimic hepatic scaffold.</p>
},
	keywords = {Bioengineering},
	doi = {10.1111/aor.12925.},
	url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28543403},
	author = {G. Mattei and C. Magliaro and Pirone, A. and A. Ahluwalia}
}
@article {2510,
	title = {Decoupling the role of stiffness from other hydroxyapatite signalling cues in periosteal derived stem cell differentiation},
	journal = {Scientific Reports},
	volume = {5},
	year = {2015},
	pages = {10778},
	keywords = {Bioengineering},
	issn = {2045-2322},
	doi = {10.1038/srep10778},
	url = {http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/srep10778},
	author = {G. Mattei and Ferretti, C. and Tirella, A and A. Ahluwalia and Mattioli-Belmonte, M.}
}
@article {2276,
	title = {Design Criteria for Generating Physiologically Relevant In Vitro Models in Bioreactors},
	journal = {Processes},
	volume = {2},
	year = {2014},
	pages = {548{\textendash}569},
	abstract = {<p>In this paper, we discuss the basic design requirements for the development of physiologically meaningful in vitro systems comprising cells, scaffolds and bioreactors, through a bottom up approach. Very simple micro- and milli-fluidic geometries are first used to illustrate the concepts, followed by a real device case-study. At each step, the fluidic and mass transport parameters in biological tissue design are considered, starting from basic questions such as the minimum number of cells and cell density required to represent a physiological system and the conditions necessary to ensure an adequate nutrient supply to tissues. At the next level, we consider the use of three-dimensional scaffolds, which are employed both for regenerative medicine applications and for the study of cells in environments which better recapitulate the physiological milieu. Here, the driving need is the rate of oxygen supply which must be maintained at an appropriate level to ensure cell viability throughout the thickness of a scaffold. Scaffold and bioreactor design are both critical in defining the oxygen profile in a cell construct and are considered together. We also discuss the oxygen-shear stress trade-off by considering the levels of mechanical stress required for hepatocytes, which are the limiting cell type in a multi-organ model. Similar considerations are also made for glucose consumption in cell constructs. Finally, the allometric approach for generating multi-tissue systemic models using bioreactors is described.</p>
},
	keywords = {Bioengineering},
	issn = {2227-9717},
	doi = {10.3390/pr2030548},
	url = {http://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/2/3/548/},
	author = {G. Mattei and S. Giusti and A. Ahluwalia}
}
