Edificio híbrido en la Residencial Limatambo en Surquillo

El distrito de Surquillo presenta hoy en día una problemática que pone en riesgo a la población residente de la Residencial Limatambo. Se trata de una zona declarada en zona de emergencia por su alta vulnerabilidad sísmica, producto de estar construida sobre un relleno sanitario. Esto ha producido daños estructurales que generan un riesgo de colapso de las casas existentes. A su vez, las condiciones del terreno han generado una importante devaluación del valor del suelo, un alto índice delictivo y un abandono de la zona con áreas verdes en desuso. El tema de investigación busca una reactivación urbana mediante el proyecto de un edificio híbrido que se vuelva un centro de actividad para la zona por la diversificación de usos; restaure el valor económico del suelo por el mejoramiento del suelo; maximice la ocupación del suelo disminuyendo la necesidad de desplazamiento, descongestionando la ciudad; alternando el área construida con espacios libres que mejoren la calidad de vida de los usuarios del edificio y alrededores. Entre los usos propuestos se encuentran: residencias, oficinas, deporte y comercio de acuerdo a análisis de mercado. El proyecto se emplaza en el terreno mediante una torre central y dos volúmenes sobreelevados que permiten el desarrollo de un parque central que interactúe con las áreas verdes colindantes bajo el principio de porosidad urbana, generando un paisaje urbano. La torre de 20 pisos plantea un juego en la fachada mediante diferentes lenguajes acorde a la escala y modulación interior de los diferentes usos y los espacios verdes de recreación. En consideraciones estructurales adicionales se utilizó micro-pilotes y aisladores sísmicos para contrarrestar la baja capacidad portante del suelo. A su vez, a nivel de instalaciones se plantean cisternas para tratamiento de aguas grises con la finalidad de un mantenimiento responsable del edificio

Micro-Bioreactor Array for Controlling Cellular Microenvironments

High throughput experiments can be used to spatially and temporally investigate the many factors that regulate cell differentiation. We have developed a micro-bioreactor array (MBA) that is fabricated using soft lithography and contains twelve independent micro-bioreactors perfused with culture medium. The MBA enables cultivation of cells that are either attached to substrates or encapsulated in hydrogels, at variable levels of hydrodynamic shear, and with automated image analysis of the expression of cell differentiation markers. The flow and mass transport in the MBA were characterized by computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling. The representative MBA configurations were validated using the C2C12 cell line, primary rat cardiac myocytes and human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) (lines H09 and H13). To illustrate the utility of the MBA for controlled studies of hESCs, we established correlations between the expression of smooth muscle actin and cell density for three different flow configurations

Bioreactor manufactured cartilage grafts repair acute and chronic osteochondral defects in large animal studies

Objectives Bioreactor‐based production systems have the potential to overcome limitations associated with conventional tissue engineering manufacturing methods, facilitating regulatory compliant and cost‐effective production of engineered grafts for widespread clinical use. In this work, we established a bioreactor‐based manufacturing system for the production of cartilage grafts. Materials & Methods All bioprocesses, from cartilage biopsy digestion through the generation of engineered grafts, were performed in our bioreactor‐based manufacturing system. All bioreactor technologies and cartilage tissue engineering bioprocesses were transferred to an independent GMP facility, where engineered grafts were manufactured for two large animal studies. Results The results of these studies demonstrate the safety and feasibility of the bioreactor‐based manufacturing approach. Moreover, grafts produced in the manufacturing system were first shown to accelerate the repair of acute osteochondral defects, compared to cell‐free scaffold implants. We then demonstrated that grafts produced in the system also facilitated faster repair in a more clinically relevant chronic defect model. Our data also suggested that bioreactor‐manufactured grafts may result in a more robust repair in the longer term. Conclusion By demonstrating the safety and efficacy of bioreactor‐generated grafts in two large animal models, this work represents a pivotal step towards implementing the bioreactor‐based manufacturing system for the production of human cartilage grafts for clinical applications

Advanced technologies for cardiac tissue engineering

Tissue engineering and cell-based therapies have been recently proposed as promising cure of diseases related to myocardium infarction. Aim of this thesis was to provide methods for rational approach the research in this field. We developed advanced systems for stem cell (SC) culture and differentiation. In particular, we focused on human stem cell, such as fetal amniotic or embryonic. To obtain biomimetic contractile tissue, these technologies have been applied to 2D and 3D cell cultures, studying in depth the parameters which influence significant biophysical stimulations, such as the electrical one. A quantitative evaluation of cardiac functionality was then performed at the cellular level, with a mathematical model, or at the tissue level, with high sensitive sensors and imaging analysis. These results seem promising for the development of high-throughput technologies for preclinical in vitro screening of cardiac drugs or for the definition of clinical method for cardiac regeneration

Micro-bioreactor arrays for controlling cellular environments: Design principles for human embryonic stem cell applications

none5We discuss the utilization of micro-bioreactor arrays for controlling cellular environments in studies of factors that regulate the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells. To this end, we have designed a simple and practical system that couples a microfluidic platform with an array of micro-bioreactors, and has the size of a microscope slide [E. Figallo, C. Cannizzaro, S. Gerecht, J.A. Burdick, R. Langer, N. Elvassore, G. Vunjak-Novakovic, Lab Chip 7 (2007) 710-719]. The system allows quantitative studies of cells cultured in monolayers or encapsulated in three-dimensional hydrogels. We review the operating requirements for studies of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) under steady-state and dynamic conditions, and the related control of the mass transport and hydrodynamic shear. We describe the design and fabrication of the individual bioreactor components, and the criteria for selecting the bioreactor configuration and operating parameters, based on the analysis of the characteristic times and scales of reaction, convection and diffusion. To illustrate the utility of the bioreactor, we present a "case study" of hESC cultivation with detailed experimental methods and representative biological readouts. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.noneCIMETTA E; FIGALLO E; CANNIZZARO C; ELVASSORE N.; VUNJAK-NOVAKOVIC GCimetta, Elisa; Figallo, Elisa; Cannizzaro, C; Elvassore, Nicola; VUNJAK NOVAKOVIC, G

Micropatterned Biopolymer 3D Scaffold for Static and Dynamic Culture of Human Fibroblasts

During in vivo tissue regeneration, cell behavior is highly influenced by the surrounding environment. Thus, the choice of scaffold material and its microstructure is one of the fundamental steps for a successful in vitro culture. An efficacious method for scaffold fabrication should prove its versatility and the possibility of controlling micro- and nanostructure. In this paper, hyaluronic acid 3D scaffolds were developed through lamination of micropatterned membranes, fabricated after optimization of a soft-lithography method. The scaffold presented here is characterized by a homogeneous hexagonal lattice with porosity of 69%, specific surface area of 287 cm-1, and permeability of 18.9 microm2. The control over the geometry was achieved with an accuracy of 20 mum. This technique allowed not only fabrication of planar 3D scaffolds but also production of thin wall tubular constructs. Mechanical tests, performed on dry tubular scaffolds, show high rupture tensile strength. This construct could be promising not only as engineered vascular grafts but also for regeneration of skin, urethra, and intestinal walls. The biocompatibility of a 3D planar scaffold was tested by seeding human fibroblasts. The cells were cultured in both static and dynamic conditions, in a perfusion bioreactor at different flow rates. Microscope analysis and MTT test showed cell proliferation and viability and a uniform cell distribution likely due to an appropriate lattice structure