Computational fluid modeling and performance analysis of a bidirectional rotating perfusion culture system

Abstract

A myriad of bioreactor configurations have been investigated as extracorporeal medical support systems for temporary replacement of vital organ functions. In recent years, studies have demonstrated that the rotating bioreactors have the potential to be utilized as bioartificial liver assist devices (BLADs) owing to their advantage of ease of scalability of cell-culture volume. However, the fluid movement in the rotating chamber will expose the suspended cells to unwanted flow structures with abnormally high shear conditions that may result in poor cell stability and in turn lower the efficacy of the bioreactor system. In this study, we compared the hydrodynamic performance of our modified rotating bioreactor design with that of an existing rotating bioreactor design. Computational fluid dynamic analysis coupled with experimental results were employed in the optimization process for the development of the modified bioreactor design. Our simulation results showed that the modified bioreactor had lower fluid induced shear stresses and more uniform flow conditions within its rotating chamber than the conventional design. Experimental results revealed that the cells within the modified bioreactor also exhibited better cell-carrier attachment, higher metabolic activity, and cell viability compared to those in the conventional design. In conclusion, this study was able to provide important insights into the flow physics within the rotating bioreactors, and help enhanced the hydrodynamic performance of an existing rotating bioreactor for BLAD applications.

Fluid Dynamic Modeling to Support the Development of Flow-Based Hepatocyte Culture Systems for Metabolism Studies

“…Many of the bioreactor systems are flow-based culture systems, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling is well suited to optimize bioreactor design as it provides a tool to describe fluid dynamics in the engineered culture devices (Kang et al, 2013 ; Hsu et al, 2014 ). CFD modeling allows parameter values to be varied and the effects on the system to be characterized rapidly.…”

“…It can also be used to describe spatiotemporal distributions of a test compound or oxygen within the system. CFD and other computational methods have previously been applied to enhance our understanding of system parameters fundamental for cell responses within complex 3D culture environments (Kang et al, 2013 ; Hsu et al, 2014 ).…”

Modelling of Continuous Production of Biogas in a Tubular Reactor

“…Other authors have shown on their works the benefits of simulations for the design and optimization of bioreactors and other kind of equipment. (Haringa et al, 2018;Kang et al, 2013;Trejo et al, 2012;Moilanen et al, 2006) In this study, the kinetic model developed by Biswas et al (2006) was applied to a tubular reactor using an intermittent feeding method. Additionally, a modification to the original model was proposed to include inhibition of methane production caused by high concentrations of acids in the reactor.…”

Numerical investigation of dynamic microorgan devices as drug screening platforms. Part II: Microscale modeling approach and validation

“…Thus, pressure drop predictions as a function of the scaffold permeability have been demonstrated for scaffolds with a variety of mechanical properties (elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio) to optimize the bioreactor design (Podichetty et al, ). Moreover, advection‐diffusion equations have been coupled with the hydrodynamics and mass transfer equations to increase model complexity and study the dynamic effect of cell colonization on the fluid‐induced stress distribution (Kang et al, ; Pearson et al, ; Spencer et al, ) within a tissue scaffold. Specifically, these reported studies aim to optimize the flow properties and bioreactor geometry to preclude any scaffold deformation or non‐uniform fluid‐induced shear stress distributions due to poroelasic phenomena that yield non‐uniform cell colonization.…”