title: Fluid mechanics of a spinner-flask bioreactor.
abstract: Spinner-flask bioreactors have been used for the production of articular cartilage in vitro. The dynamic environment within bioreactors is known to significantly affect the growth and development of the tissue. The present research focuses on the experimental and numerical characterization of the flow field within a spinner flask operating under conditions used to produce cartilage. Laboratory experiments carried out in a scaled-up model bioreactor employ particle-image velocimetry (PIV) to determine velocity and shear-rate fields in the vicinity of the construct closest to the stir bar, in addition to turbulence properties. Numerical computations calculated using FLUENT, a commercial software package, simulate the flow field in the same model bioreactor under similar operating conditions. In the computations, scaffolds were modeled as both solid and porous media with different permeabilities and flow rates through various faces of the construct nearest the stir bar were examined.
authors.affiliation: Georgia Institute of Technology, The George W Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, 771 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0405, USA.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sucosky
authors.forename: Diego F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Osorio
authors.forename: Jason B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: G Paul
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Neitzel
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors; D002356:Cartilage / Q000254:growth & development; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003198:Computer Simulation; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009038:Motion; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011312:Pressure; D012212:Rheology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D012399:Rotation; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods