![Sample our Engineering & Technology journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5933/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Engineering-Tech.jpg"})
Abstract
Oscillatory shear stress (OSS), caused by time-varying flow environments, may play a critical role in the production of engineered tissue by bone marrow-derived stem cells. This is particularly relevant in heart valve tissue engineering (HVTE), owing to the intense haemodynamic environments that surround native valves. In this study, we examined and quantified the role that (i) physiologically relevant scales of pulsatility and (ii) changes in geometry as a function of specimen flexure have in creating OSS conditions. A U-shaped bioreactor capable of producing flow, stretch and flexure was modelled with housed specimens, and computational fluid dynamic simulations were performed. We found that physiologically relevant OSS can be maximised by the application of pulsatile flow to straight, non-moving specimens in a uniform manner. This finding reduces a substantial layer of complexity in dynamic HVTE protocols in which traditionally, time-varying flow has been promoted through specimen movement in custom-made bioreactors.
Acknowledgements
Funding for this work was provided by the American Heart Association (AHA), National Scientist Development Grant ID #: 0830061N (Sharan Ramaswamy). Graduate studies (Manuel Salinas) were supported through minority opportunities in biomedical research programmes – research initiative for scientific enhancement (MBRS-RISE) fellowship: NIH/NIGMS R25 GM061347. The authors acknowledge the Tecplot technical support centre for assistance with the usage of Tecplot 360 software. Finally, the authors thank Mr Jerry Centeno for his assistance with post-processing of data.