Effervescent Atomizer as Novel Cell Spray Technology to Decrease the Gas-to-Liquid Ratio

Pharmaceutics, vol. 14, pp. 2421

Abstract

Cell spraying has become a feasible application method for cell therapy and tissue engineering approaches. Different devices have been used with varying success. Often, twin-fluid atomizers are used, which require a high gas velocity for optimal aerosolization characteristics. To decrease the amount and velocity of required air, a custom-made atomizer was designed based on the effervescent principle. Different designs were evaluated regarding spray characteristics and their influence on human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells. The arithmetic mean diameters of the droplets were 15.4−33.5 µm with decreasing diameters for increasing gas-to-liquid ratios. The survival rate was >90% of the control for the lowest gas-to-liquid ratio. For higher ratios, cell survival decreased to approximately 50%. Further experiments were performed with the design, which had shown the highest survival rates. After seven days, no significant differences in metabolic activity were observed. The apoptosis rates were not influenced by aerosolization, while high gas-to-liquid ratios caused increased necrosis levels. Tri-lineage differentiation potential into adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts was not negatively influenced by aerosolization. Thus, the effervescent aerosolization principle was proven suitable for cell applications requiring reduced amounts of supplied air. This is the first time an effervescent atomizer was used for cell processing.

Authors 9

1. Anja Lena Thiebes corresponding Aachen Department of Biohybrid and Medical Textiles (BioTex) AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University · Maastricht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD Geleen, The Netherlands

   Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME—Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 55, 52074 Aachen, Germany

2. Sarah Klein Aachen Department of Biohybrid and Medical Textiles (BioTex) AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University · Maastricht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD Geleen, The Netherlands

   Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME—Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 55, 52074 Aachen, Germany

3. Jonas Zingsheim Aachen Department of Biohybrid and Medical Textiles (BioTex) AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Laboratory Biomaterial

   RWTH Aachen University · FH Aachen

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME—Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 55, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Laboratory Biomaterial, University of Applied Sciences Aachen, Heinrich-Mußmann-Straße 1, 52428 Jülich, Germany

4. Georg Möller Aachen Institute of Heat and Mass Transfer

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Heat and Mass Transfer (WSA), RWTH Aachen University, Augustinerbach 6, 52056 Aachen, Germany

5. Stefanie Gürzing Aachen Institute of Heat and Mass Transfer

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Heat and Mass Transfer (WSA), RWTH Aachen University, Augustinerbach 6, 52056 Aachen, Germany

6. Manuel Armin Reddemann Aachen Institute of Heat and Mass Transfer

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Heat and Mass Transfer (WSA), RWTH Aachen University, Augustinerbach 6, 52056 Aachen, Germany

7. Mehdi Behbahani Aachen Laboratory Biomaterial

   FH Aachen

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory Biomaterial, University of Applied Sciences Aachen, Heinrich-Mußmann-Straße 1, 52428 Jülich, Germany

8. Stefan Jockenhoevel corresponding Aachen Department of Biohybrid and Medical Textiles (BioTex) AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University · Maastricht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD Geleen, The Netherlands

   Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME—Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 55, 52074 Aachen, Germany

9. Christian Gabriel Cornelissen Aachen Department of Biohybrid and Medical Textiles (BioTex) AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Department of Pneumology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine Medical Clinic V

   RWTH Aachen University · Universitätsklinikum Aachen

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME—Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 55, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Department of Pneumology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, Medical Clinic V, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany