Tufan Egeli

Three-dimensional (3D) bioreactor systems are essential for vascular tissue engineering as they provide controlled environments that better mimic physiological conditions compared to static culture systems. In this study, an IoT-enabled modular rotating 3D bioreactor platform was designed, fabricated using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), and biologically validated. The system integrates a Wi-Fi-supported ESP8266 controller and a touchscreen human–machine interface (HMI), enabling real-time monitoring and remote operation. Agarose-chitosan-based tubular hydrogel constructs were seeded with human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) and cultured under dynamic conditions for 14 days. Biocompatibility was assessed using a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, while cellular distribution and mitochondrial activity were evaluated by confocal microscopy using DAPI and MitoTracker staining. Fluorescence intensity was further quantified using ImageJ, and 3D surface plots were generated to visualize spatial signal distribution. The results demonstrated sustained cell viability with decreasing cytotoxicity over time. Confocal analysis confirmed a homogeneous distribution of cells within the hydrogel matrix, and quantitative fluorescence analysis showed significantly higher MitoTracker intensity compared to DAPI, indicating increased metabolic activity under dynamic conditions. These findings suggest that the developed bioreactor provides a stable, controllable, and effective platform for vascular tissue engineering applications.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the early postoperative outcomes of patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) with total mesopancreatic excision (TMpE) versus conventional pancreaticoduodenectomy (Co-PD) for pancreatic head ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent PD for pancreatic head cancer between January 2021 and December 2024 in our clinic and had a pathological diagnosis of PDAC were included. Patients were stratified into two groups according to the surgical technique performed (TMpE-PD vs. Co-PD). Demographic characteristics and early postoperative clinicopathological data were compared between the groups. Results: A total of 41 patients were included: 17 (41.5%) underwent TMpE-PD and 24 (58.5%) underwent Co-PD. Demographic and clinicopathological parameters were comparable between the groups. Although not statistically significant, the TMpE-PD group demonstrated higher R0 resection rates (58.8% vs. 45.8%; p = 0.412) and greater lymph node yield (33.9 vs. 29.1; p = 0.757) compared to the Co-PD group. Overall postoperative complications were more frequent in the TMpE-PD group (82.4% vs. 63.4%; p = 0.034). A smaller pancreatic duct diameter was associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications in both groups, approaching statistical significance (p = 0.053). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the surgical technique was not an independent risk factor for postoperative complications (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.14–2.83; p = 0.56). No direct correlation was found between resection margin status (R0 vs. R1) and the development of postoperative complications. Conclusions: TMpE demonstrated non-significant trends toward higher R0 resection rates and greater lymph node yield compared with conventional PD. These findings suggest possible oncological benefits without significantly increasing perioperative morbidity.