Modeling of cell distribution in a 3D scaffold

• Κύριος συγγραφέας: Μανάρα, Αικατερίνη
• Άλλοι συγγραφείς: Δεληγιάννη, Δέσποινα
• Μορφή: Thesis
• Γλώσσα: English
• Έκδοση: 2019
• Θέματα: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD); Porous scaffold; Cell seeding; 3D; Υπολογιστική ρευστομηχανική; Πορώδη ικριώματα; Τροφοδότηση κυττάρων; 611.018 1

Three dimensional porous scaffolds have gained increasing interest in tissue engineering due to their evident advantages in providing more accurately the actual microenvironment where cells reside in tissues. Furthermore, bioreactors have proved to be crucial tools to initiate, maintain and direct cell cultures and tissue development in a three-dimensional environment. Computational methods can be used to determine cell density and spatial distribution in the 3D scaffold. Cell seeding is a critical step in tissue engineering. A high number of cells evenly distributed in scaffolds after seeding are associated with a more functional tissue culture. Furthermore, high cell densities have shown the possibility to reduce culture time or increase the formation of tissue. Experimentally, it is difficult to predict the cell-seeding process. In this study, computational methods were used to evaluate the cell seeding process in a 3D scaffold. Computational simulations were conducted changing the parameters of the bioreactor in order to optimize them and use them subsequently in experiments. The cells are treated as spherical particles dragged by the fluid media. Inlet velocity of the media, inlet number of cells inserted, and time of culture were taken into account. The optimum inlet velocity was found, and the distribution of the cells was depicted. The simulation’s results enable the design and implementation of the cell seeding process in our laboratory’s custom-made bioreactor experimentally.