L5 - Bioreactors Flashcards
What is the purpose of a bioreactor?
To enable 3D tissue development
Why is static culture not that effective?
It is relatively cheap and easy but there is no mixing which causes a concentration gradient - issues growing a 3D structure
What are the roles of bioreactors?
- Uniform cell distribution on 3D scaffolds
- Overcome mass transport limitations - better diffusion of oxygen/nutrients/waste
- Physical conditioning - expose developing tissue to physical stimuli
What are some design considerations for bioreactors?
Biocompatiblity and sterility
What are the different types of bioreactors?
Spinner flask - scaffold and cells in suspension. Cells is on periphery of scaffold.
Rotating wall - centrifugal forces suspend scaffold in matrix. As scaffold/tissue grows the rotational speed must increase
Perfusion - culture medium continually circulated through the construct. Effects are highly dependent on medium flow rate. CAN USE FOR DECELLULARISING
Compression - apply mechanical stimulation to cell-seeded constructs
What did the flex-stretch-BR do?
Allowed cyclic flexure and constant laminar flow to be applied to heart valve scaffold seeded with MSCs. The use of the BR showed accelerated MSC-mediated tissue formation.
