A novel multi-coaxial hollow fiber bioreactor for adherent cell types. Part 1: hydrodynamic studies.
A novel multi-coaxial bioreactor for three-dimensional cultures of adherent cell types, such as liver, is described. It is composed of four tubes of increasing diameter placed one inside the other, creating four spatially isolated compartments. Liver acinar structure and physiological parameters are mimicked by sandwiching cells in the space between the two innermost semi-permeable tubes, or hollows fibers, and creating a radial flow of media from an outer compartment (ECC), through the cell mass compartment, and to an inner compartment (ICC). The outermost compartment is created by gas-permeable tubing, and the housing is used to oxygenate the perfusion media to periportal levels in the ECC. Experiments were performed using distilled water to correlate the radial flow rate (Q(r)) with (1) the pressure drop (DeltaP) between the media compartments that sandwich the cell compartment and (2) the pressure in the cell compartment (P(c)). These results were compared with the theoretical profile calculated based on the hydraulic permeability of the two innermost fibers. Phase-contrast velocity-encoded magnetic resonance imaging was used to visualize directly the axial velocities inside the bioreactor and confirm the assumptions of laminar flow and zero axial velocity at the boundaries of each compartment in the bioreactor. Axial flow rates were calculated from the magnetic resonance imaging results and were similar to the measured axial flow rates for the previously described experiments.
Wolfe
Stephen P
SP
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
Hsu
Edward
E
Reid
Lola M
LM
Macdonald
Jeffrey M
JM
D001187:Artificial Organs; D019149:Bioreactors; D002244:Carbon; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D010539:Permeability; D010969:Plastics; D014867:Water
D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D010969:Plastics; C037808:plastic, carbon fiber reinforced; D014867:Water; D002244:Carbon