4.2 Article

Channeling Effect and Tissue Morphology in a Perfusion Bioreactor Imaged by X-Ray Microtomography

Journal

TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
Volume 17, Issue 3, Pages 301-311

Publisher

KOREAN TISSUE ENGINEERING REGENERATIVE MEDICINE SOC
DOI: 10.1007/s13770-020-00246-8

Keywords

X-ray microtomography; Perfusion bioreactor; Tissue engineering; Channeling effect; Tissue morphology

Funding

  1. French Agence Nationale de la Recherche through the Investissements d'avenir program [ANR-10-EQPX-37 MATMECA]
  2. Fondation pour la Recherche Medicale [FRM FDT201805005480]

Ask authors/readers for more resources

Background: Perfusion bioreactors for tissue engineering hold great promises. Indeed, the perfusion of culture medium enhances species transport and mechanically stimulates the cells, thereby increasing cell proliferation and tissue formation. Nonetheless, their development is still hampered by a lack of understanding of the relationship between mechanical cues and tissue growth. Methods: Combining tissue engineering, three-dimensional visualization and numerical simulations, we analyze the morphological evolution of neo-tissue in a model bioreactor with respect to the local flow pattern. NIH-3T3 cells were grown under perfusion for one, two and three weeks on a stack of 2 mm polyacetal beads. The model bioreactor was then imaged by X-ray micro-tomography and local tissue morphology was analyzed. To relate experimental observations and mechanical stimulii, a computational fluid dynamics model of flow around spheres in a canal was developed and solved using the finite element method. Results: We observe a preferential tissue formation at the bioreactor periphery, and relate it to a channeling effect leading to regions of higher flow intensity. Additionally, we find that circular crater-like tissue patterns form in narrow channel regions at early culture times. Using computational fluid dynamic simulations, we show that the location and morphology of these patterns match those of shear stress maxima. Finally, the morphology of the tissue is qualitatively described as the tissue grows and reorganizes itself. Conclusion: Altogether, our study points out the key role of local flow conditions on the tissue morphology developed on a stack of beads in perfusion bioreactors and provides new insights for effective design of hydrodynamic bioreactors for tissue engineering using bead packings.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.2
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available