title: A novel flow-perfusion bioreactor supports 3D dynamic cell culture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bone engineering requires thicker three-dimensional constructs than the maximum thickness supported by standard cell-culture techniques (2 mm). A flow-perfusion bioreactor was developed to provide chemotransportation to thick (6 mm) scaffolds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Polyurethane scaffolds, seeded with murine preosteoblasts, were loaded into a novel bioreactor. Control scaffolds remained in static culture. Samples were harvested at days 2, 4, 6, and 8 and analyzed for cellular distribution, viability, metabolic activity, and density at the periphery and core.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By day 8, static scaffolds had a periphery cell density of 67% +/- 5.0%, while in the core it was 0.3% +/- 0.3%. Flow-perfused scaffolds demonstrated peripheral cell density of 94% +/- 8.3% and core density of 76% +/- 3.1% at day 8.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flow perfusion provides chemotransportation to thick scaffolds. This system may permit high throughput study of 3D tissues in vitro and enable prefabrication of biological constructs large enough to solve clinical problems.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Laboratories, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sailon
authors.forename: Alexander C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Allori
authors.forename: Edward H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Derek D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Reformat
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D019149:Bioreactors; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D051379:Mice; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015530:Nuclear Matrix; D010477:Perfusion / Q000295:instrumentation*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation*