Permeability evaluation of flow behaviors within perfusion bioreactors

Abstract

Tissue engineering aims to produce artificial tissue in order to create or repair damaged tissue. It is evident that scaffolds are of extreme importance, because they will be the support structure of the new tissue. This new tissue is cultivated in vitro in a bioreactor in which is placed the scaffold. In order to control the cell culture process inside of a bioreactor, it is essential to know the fluid flow inside the scaffold for an adequate exchange of nutrients and metabolic waste. A novel multifunctional bioreactor with a perfusion system module comprised of three different inlet and outlet membranes is being developed. This research work will evaluate the permeability of the scaffold under the three different inlet and outlet diffusion membranes of the culture chamber.