Lecture 6

Question 1

What are bioreactors?

Answer 1

Attempt to simulate in vivo conditions, with varying degrees of sophistication. They can provide environmental control, allow exchange of nutrients and deliver biological and mechanical cues…and can enable scale-up…!
Devices in which biological and/or biochemical processes develop under closely monitored and tightly controlled environmental and operating conditions (e.g. pH, temperature, pressure, nutrient supply and waste removal)

Question 2

What are microcarriers?

Answer 2

Particles that enable scaled-up growth of adherent cells in dynamic bioreactors.

May also be used for regenerative purposes in vivo.

Question 3

Can you think of one disadvantage of using a continually perfused environment for cell growth?

Answer 3

Puts shear stress on cells and may affect adhesion.
Potentially very expensive to continuously maintain bioreactor environment.

Difficulties in imaging throughout scaffold during perfusion?

Also: Perfusion will continually remove secreted cell products, soluble proteins and EVs, which may have beneficial effects in terms of cells growth and coordinated signalling.