The role of perfusion bioreactors in bone tissue engineering

Figures & data

Figure 1. Schematic of the perfusion system described by Bancroft et al. (A) Top view of the perfusion chamber with six scaffold holders. (B) Representation of the complete system with the scaffold represented in gray, press-fit between the two O-rings, in black. The two medium reservoirs, 1 and 2, allow for complete medium change when the connection between the two is closed. Arrows represent medium flow.

Figure 2. Schematic of the perfusion system described by Janssen et al. (A) Top view of the perforated lid and bottom, (B) detail of the perfusion chamber (scaffolds in gray and O-rings in black) and (C) representation of the complete system. Oxygen sensors are placed before and after the perfusion chamber.

Figure 3. (A) Representation of the perfusion chamber described by Grayson et al.³² The media goes in through one end and it is distributed equally by the six individual chambers (each holding one scaffold shown in gray) and finally goes out through the opposite end. (B) Representation of the system described by Cartmell et al.⁶² The perfusion block is composed by eight individual chambers (each holding one scaffold, entrance of the chamber shown in gray). Each chamber is fed individually by a tube that comes from the reservoir.

Table 1. Selected perfusion systems corresponding flow rates and scaffolds used with them and respective pore sizes

First described by	Type of scaffold	Pore size	Flow rate
Bancroft et al.^29	PLA nonwoven scaffolds	17 µm	0.6 ml/min^59
	Titanium nonwoven fibers	Not reported	1 ml/min^52
		250 µm	0.3, 1 and 3 ml/min^51
		250 µm	0.3 ml/min^23
		29.8 and 65.3 µm	1 ml/min^35
	Skelite^™	200 to 500 µm	0.1 ml/min^31
	Coralline hydroxyapatite	200 to 500 µm	0.1 ml/min^36
Cartmell et al.^62	Trabecular bone	645 µm	1, 0.2, 0.1 and 0.01 ml/min
Grayson et al.^32	Trabecular bone	600 to 1,000 µm	0.85 ml/min
Janssen et al.^30	Biphasic calcium phosphate	> 100 µm	4 ml/min
Sailon et al.^20	Polyurethane	200 µm	1 ml/min

Table 2. Selected perfusion systems and respective shear stresses

Described by	Shear stress
Sikavitsas et al.^59	0.05 dyn/cm^2
Bancroft et al.^51	1 dyn/cm^2
Sikavitsas et al.^23	0.1 to 0.3 dyn/cm^2
Sailon et al.^20	0.02 dyn/cm^2
Goldstein et al.^27	0.34 dyn/cm^2

Table 3. Selected perfusion systems that support oscillatory or pulsatile flow and some relevant parameters

Described by	Flow rate	Shear stress	Frequency
Du et al.^69^,^70	0.5 ml/min	0.04 dyn/cm^2	1/60 Hz
Jagodzinski et al.^71	10 ml/min	Not reported	0.1 to 20 Hz (Cyclic compression of 10%)
Sharp et al.^73	3 to 6 ml/min	2.3 to 4.3 dyn/cm^2	0.015, 0.044 and 0.074 Hz
Kavlock et al.^72	3.1 to 6.1 ml/min	0.21 to 0.42 dyn/cm^2	0.083, 0.05 and 0.017 Hz

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