Design and evaluation of a novel subatmospheric pressure bioreactor for the preconditioning of tissue-engineered vascular constructs

摘要

Purpose: The pre-conditioning of tissue-engineered vascular scaffolds with mechanical stimuli is being recognised as an essential step in producing a functional vascular construct. In this study we design and evaluate a novel bioreactor, which exerts a mechanical strain on developing vascular scaffolds via subatmospheric pressure.