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Bioreactors

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Tissue Engineering

Part of the book series: Learning Materials in Biosciences ((LMB))

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Abstract

This chapter will introduce students to different types of bioreactors that help to culture 3D tissue-engineered constructs, providing cell growth in biocompatible matrices. The desirable properties of these devices include ease of assembly, a possibility for multiple sterilizations, absence of toxic materials, and endurance for cell culture conditions. Depending on the tissue of choice, various forms of bioreactors can be used with the common goal of enabling the flow of nutrients and oxygen through the scaffold and providing an optimal cell growth environment, including pH, temperature, and oxygen tension. For many tissues, external stimuli such as electrical stimulation, mechanical stretch, or compression must be also included in the bioreactor design. Finally, we briefly discuss the importance of monitoring cells’ viability and activity within cultured 3D scaffolds using a variety of live and fixed tissue markers.

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References and Further Reading

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. American University of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia

    Arman Simonyan

  2. The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    Narine Sarvazyan

Authors
  1. Arman Simonyan
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  2. Narine Sarvazyan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Narine Sarvazyan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    Narine Sarvazyan

Self-Check Questions

Self-Check Questions

  1. Q.11.1.

    Select the best type of reactor for a tissue-engineered vessel.

    1. A.

      Rotating wall bioreactor

    2. B.

      Flow perfusion bioreactor

    3. C.

      Compression bioreactor

    4. D.

      Spinner flask

  1. Q.11.2.

    To recreate in vivo environment while growing engineered heart constructs, a bioreactor’s design should include

    1. A.

      Electrical stimulation and cyclical stretch

    2. B.

      Daily media change

    3. C.

      Highly periodic changes in media calcium concentrations

    4. D.

      Mechanical tissue compression

  1. Q.11.3.

    To recreate in vivo environment while growing engineered bone constructs, a bioreactor’s design should include

    1. A.

      Electrical stimulation and cyclical stretch

    2. B.

      Daily media change

    3. C.

      Highly periodic changes in media calcium concentrations

    4. D.

      Mechanical tissue compression

  1. Q.11.4.

    Tissue vascularization strategies include

    1. A.

      In vivo vascularization of sequential layers of engineered tissue

    2. B.

      Creation of small artificial channels using microfluidics

    3. C.

      Incorporation of angiogenic factors stimulating endothelial cell proliferation

    4. D.

      All of the above

  1. Q.11.5.

    General bioreactor design must enable a user to do all of the following, EXCEPT the ability to ___________ which is optional.

    1. A.

      Regulate temperature and oxygen delivery

    2. B.

      Control rate of media perfusion

    3. C.

      Observe cells while they are forming tissue

    4. D.

      Sterilize bioreactor for repeated use

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Simonyan, A., Sarvazyan, N. (2020). Bioreactors. In: Sarvazyan, N. (eds) Tissue Engineering. Learning Materials in Biosciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39698-5_11

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