Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

The growth of a cell population within a rigid porous scaffold in a perfusion bioreactor is studied, using a three-phase continuum model of the type presented by Lemon et al. (2006, Multiphase modelling of tissue growth using the theory of mixtures. J. Math. Biol., 52, 571-594) to represent the cell population (and attendant extracellular matrix), culture medium and porous scaffold. The bioreactor system is modelled as a 2D channel containing the cell-seeded rigid porous scaffold (tissue construct) which is perfused with culture medium. The study concentrates on (i) the cell-cell and cell-scaffold interactions and (ii) the impact of mechanotransduction mechanisms on construct composition. A numerical and analytical analysis of the model equations is presented and, depending upon the relative importance of cell aggregation and repulsion, markedly different cell movement is revealed. Additionally, mechanotransduction effects due to cell density, pressure and shear stress-mediated tissue growth are shown to generate qualitative differences in the composition of the resulting construct. The results of our simulations indicate that this model formulation (in conjunction with appropriate experimental data) has the potential to provide a means of identifying the dominant regulatory stimuli in a cell population.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/imammb/dqp003

Type

Journal article

Journal

Math Med Biol

Publication Date

06/2010

Volume

27

Pages

95 - 127

Keywords

Algorithms, Apoptosis, Biomechanical Phenomena, Bioreactors, Cell Adhesion, Cell Aggregation, Cell Communication, Cell Count, Cell Culture Techniques, Cell Proliferation, Computer Simulation, Contact Inhibition, Diffusion, Elasticity, Extracellular Matrix, Hydrostatic Pressure, Mechanotransduction, Cellular, Models, Biological, Perfusion, Porosity, Pressure, Rheology, Stress, Mechanical, Tissue Engineering, Tissue Scaffolds, Viscosity