Design and functional testing of a multichamber perfusion platform for three-dimensional scaffolds.
Perfusion culture systems are widely used in tissue engineering applications for enhancing cell culture viability in the core of three-dimensional scaffolds. In this work, we present a multichamber confined-flow perfusion system, designed to provide a straightforward platform for three-dimensional dynamic cell cultures. The device comprises 6 culture chambers allowing independent and simultaneous experiments in controlled conditions. Each chamber consists of three parts: a housing, a deformable scaffold-holder cartridge, and a 7 mL reservoir, which couples water-tightly with the housing compressing the cartridge. Short-term dynamic cell seeding experiments were carried out with MC3T3-E1 cells seeded into polycaprolactone porous scaffolds. Preliminary results revealed that the application of flow perfusion through the scaffold favored the penetration of the cells to its interior, producing a more homogeneous distribution of cells with respect to dropwise or injection seeding methods. The culture chamber layout was conceived with the aim of simplifying the user operations under laminar flow hood and minimizing the risks for contamination during handling and operation. Furthermore, a compact size, a small number of components, and the use of bayonet couplings ensured a simple, fast, and sterility-promoting assembling. Finally, preliminary in vitro tests proved the efficacy of the system in enhancing cell seeding efficiency, opening the way for further studies addressing long-term scaffold colonization.
Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, P.zza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy.
Marco
M
Piola
Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, P.zza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy.
Monica
M
Soncini
Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, P.zza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy ; Universitat Politècnica de València, Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Camino de Vera, s/n 46022 Valencia, Spain.
Marco
M
Cantini
Cell and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, via R. Galeazzi 4, 20161 Milano, Italy.
Nasser
N
Sadr
Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche L. Sacco, Università di Milano, via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy.
Giulio
G
Ferrario
Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, P.zza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy.
Gianfranco B
GB
Fiore
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D019149:Bioreactors; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D002470:Cell Survival; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D010477:Perfusion; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D003470:Culture Media; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone