Fluid Dynamics Analysis of a Novel Micropatterned Cell Bioreactor

Abstract

Although flow-based bioreactor has been widely used to provide sufficient mass transportation and nutrient supply for cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, the underlying mechanism of cell responses to applied flow at single cell level remains unclear. This study has developed a novel bioreactor that combines flow bioreactor with microfabrication technique to isolate individual cells onto micropatterned substrate. A mechanical model has also been developed to quantify the flow field or the microenvironment around the single cell; flow dynamics has been analyzed on five geometrically different patterns of circle-, cube-, 1:2 ellipse-, 1:3 ellipse-, and rectangle-shaped "virtual cells." The results of this study have demonstrated that the flow field is highly pattern dependent, and all the hydrodynamic development length, cell spacing, and orientation of inlet velocity vector are crucial for maintaining a fully developed flow. This study has provided a theoretical basis for optimizing the design of micropatterned flow bioreactor and a novel approach to understand the cell mechanotransduction and cell-surface interaction at single cell level.

Microgravity-Induced Alterations of Inflammation-Related Mechanotransduction in Endothelial Cells on Board SJ-10 Satellite

“…Taking into account that shear stress could induce NO production in ECs ( Wuest et al, 2017 ), the enhanced NO release in the RWV experiment may originate from shear stress directly, implying the importance of mechanical parameters in clinostat studies. In fact, shear stress is a critical regulating factor in mass transfer for cell growth in space ( Sun et al, 2008 ) or on ground ( Cui et al, 2011 ) and highly associated with the relevant functions of the cells cultured. In current work, the shear stress only existed when the culture medium was refreshed, not persisted as the clinostat culture, and therefore the influence of shear stress should be less than that in the clinostat experiments.…”

Calcium response in bone cells at different osteogenic stages under unidirectional or oscillatory flow

“…Our previous numerical simulation showed that the hydrodynamic parameters, such as FSS or strain rate, around the micropatterned cells were obviously higher than those on a blank substrate because of the direct exposure of micropatterned cells to fluid flow. 43 Considering the low height of the high-density cells compared with low-density cells, the enhanced FSS for lowdensity groups may activate more MC3T3-E1 cells than the highdensity groups. In our previous studies, 22,[34][35][36][37] we seeded the cells on micropatterned islands with 300-400 μm 2 area, which was smaller than approximately 1000 μm 2 for the osteoblasts or osteocytes cultured on a blank surface.…”

Mechanomics: an emerging field between biology and biomechanics

“…Cellular responses to shear flow that mimics the physiological blood or interstitial flow are extensively investigated (Liang et al, 2008; Cui et al, 2011; Fu et al, 2011a; Kang et al, 2012). Exposure of live cells to shear flow induces remarkable changes in cell morphology, adhesion, and spreading (Yang et al, 2009; Zhan et al, 2012).…”