Determination of microcarrier radius that can be cultured in a rotational wall vessel bioreactor

Abstract

Introduction: Bioreactor are used as cell culture systems for growth of
tissue – engineered, because strong shear stress effect on bioreactor damages delicate cells and is hypothesized to degrade the formation of three-dimensional tissue-like structures, such a stress should be analyzed. In this study, the forces acting on a small piece of tissue or a microcarrier particle and its movement in the RWV bioreactor with inner cylinder were analyzed. The tracks of a particle in RWV bioreactor were calculated under different inner and outer cylinder rotating speeds, different particle sizes. The shear stress acting on the particle was analyzed. Finally, an expression between the shear stress acting on the particle and the microcarrier radius is obtained. Objectives: Determination of the range of microcarrier radius or tissue size, which could be safely cultured in the RWV bioreactor. Materials and Methods: The forces of rotational wall vessel (RWV) bioreactor on small tissue pieces or microcarrier particles was calculated and the shear stress acting on the particle was analyzed.
Results: The range of microcarrier radius or tissue size, which could be safely cultured in the RWV bioreactor, in terms of shear stress level, was determined. Conclusion: The upper safe size range for the particles cultured in RWV is 600-1300. μm in radius.

Key Words: Tissue engineering, rotating wall vessel, bioreactor.