title: Cellular Nutrition in Complex Three-Dimensional Scaffolds: A Comparison between Experiments and Computer Simulations.
abstract: Studies on bone cell ingrowth into synthetic, porous three-dimensional (3D) implants showed difficulties arising from impaired cellular proliferation and differentiation in the core region of these scaffolds with increasing scaffold volume in vitro. Therefore, we developed an in vitro perfusion cell culture module, which allows the analysis of cells in the interior of scaffolds under different medium flow rates. For each flow rate the cell viability was measured and compared with results from computer simulations that predict the local oxygen supply and shear stress inside the scaffold based on the finite element method. We found that the local cell viability correlates with the local oxygen concentration and the local shear stress. On the one hand the oxygen supply of the cells in the core becomes optimal with a higher perfusion flow. On the other hand shear stress caused by high flow rates impedes cell vitality, especially at the surface of the scaffold. Our results demonstrate that both parameters must be considered to derive an optimal nutrient flow rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Rostock, Schillingallee 69, 18057 Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bergemann
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, Wiesenstraße 14, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elter
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Institute for Electronic Appliances and Circuits, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 2, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.affiliation: Institute for Polymer Technology, Alter Holzhafen 19, 23966 Wismar, Germany.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Weißmann
authors.affiliation: Institute for Polymer Technology, Alter Holzhafen 19, 23966 Wismar, Germany.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hansmann
authors.affiliation: DOT GmbH, Charles-Darwin-Ring 1a, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Ernst-Dieter
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Klinkenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Rostock, Schillingallee 69, 18057 Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nebe