Questions cluster 3, 4

Question 1

Extracellular vesicles can be organized into which different subtypes?

a) Oncosomes
b) Microvesicles
c) Apoptotic bodies
d) Exosomes
e) All of the above

Answer 1

e) All of the above

Question 2

Name 3 types of molecules that extracellular vesicles can contain.

Answer 2

mRNA
miRNA
Proteins
Metabolites

Question 3

Which property of the nucleus pulposus is most important for the function of the IVD?

a) Viscosity
b) High water content
c) High swelling pressure
d) Richness in notochordal cells
e) High collagen content

Answer 3

c) High swelling pressure

Question 4

Drugs can be administered via enteral and parenteral administration routes. What is the difference between these routes? Name 2 examples of each administration route.

Answer 4

Enteral: administration via the gastro-intestinal tract. E.g., Oral-swallowing, sublingual, rectum.

Parenteral: administration via routes outside the gastro-intestinal tract. E.g., intravascular, intramuscular, subcutaneous, inhalation.

Question 5

Name 2 reasons why we need bioreactors in RM.

Answer 5

1. Establishing (3D) cell cultures: cells, scaffolds, cells on/in scaffolds
2. Maintaining controlled culture environment
3. Physical/ mechanical conditioning engineered grafts
4. Manufacturing of RM products; upscaling

Question 6

Two major engineering approaches are currently being investigated to improve stem cell delivery to the heart in order to promote cardiac tissue regeneration: Injectable material applications and patch-based application. Name 1 advantage for each application.

Answer 6

Injectable material applications: potential for minimally invasive therapy; minimal in vitro manipulation; direct administration into the injured cardiac muscle

patch-based application: tight control over cell proliferation and differentiation; no cell loss during administration procedure; precise positioning on injured area

Question 7

Describe the principle of in situ tissue engineering.

Answer 7

A cell-free scaffold is directly implanted in the body. Subsequent tissue development by infiltrating cells takes place inside the body.

Question 8

What is the difference between formation of exosomes and microvesicles?

Answer 8

Microvesicles are formed by outward budding of vesicles from the cell membrane; Exosomes are formed by invagination of the membrane of intracellular vesicles to form a multivesicular body.

Question 9

Heart valve tissue engineering is pursued as an alternative to current treatment options. Two clinically available treatment options for heart valve replacement are mechanical hearts and cross-linked xenografts. Name a disadvantage for each of these options.

Answer 9

mechanical heart valve: limitation is the need for life-long anti-coagulation.

cross-linked xenograft: limited durability, prone to calcification. For both options, the fact that these valves cannot grow and adapt to changes in hemodynamics is also one of the main limitations.

Question 10

Why do we need computational modeling?

a) Advanced analysis and understanding of experimentally observed behavior
b) Prediction of in vivo regeneration (of engineered tissues)
c) Optimize design of biomaterials/scaffolds for regenerative purposes
d) All of the above

Answer 10

d) All of the above