Fabrication and Characterization of a Perfusion Bioreactor for Interface Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Current trends in replacement of ligaments have had less success in terms of regenerating the Enthesis (Bone-Ligament or Bone-Tendon Interface) due to lack of Insertion Technology. A more assuring approach would be regenerating the ligament graft by Interface Tissue Engineering. There is a need of specialized multi-compartmental bioreactors to simulate the environment of enthesis. Such a bioreactor was designed and fabricated which would facilitate perfusion flow through a cell-seeded scaffold in a culture medium that resembles the fluid present in synovial joint cavity. The perfusion bioreactor design also incorporated independent setups for the simultaneous application of tension and compression as mechanical stimulus to the cell-scaffold construct.to facilitate the regeneration of enthesis. Accordingly the temperature, pressure, pH and dissolved oxygen concentration of the system can be regulated in-vitro to mimic the in-vivo conditions. Hence, the proposed perfusion bioreactor has the capability to simulate all the environmental parameters for proper development of a bone-ligament interface with enhanced insertion strength.