Bioreactor Based Tissue Engineering Of Bone: In Vivo Bone Healing Potential Of 3d Scaffolds Developed In Bioreactors

摘要

Studies have shown that bone tissue ingrowth in three-dimensional (3D) tissue engineered constructs was limited in static culture conditions due to insufficient nutrient transport and waste product efflux at static tissue culture environments. To overcome the drawbacks associated with static cultures, we have adopted the high aspect ratio vessel (HARV) rotating bioreactor to provide a form of dynamic flow culture condition to promote bone tissue synthesis on 3D degradable microcarrier scaffolds [1]. In previous studies, we have developed novel poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLAGA) microcarrier based 3D mixed scaffolds by sintering the lighter than water (LTW, density < 1 g/cm~3) and heavier than water (HTW, density > 1 g/cm~3) microcarriers [2, 3]. By exposing the microcarrier based scaffolds to fluid and nutrient flux via placement in a dynamic cell culturing environment in rotating bioreactors, our early results have demonstrated that osteoblast cell phenotypic expression and mineralization can be significantly enhanced [3]. In this study, we seek to determine the ability of these tissue engineered scaffolds developed in rotating bioreactors to heal cortical bone defects in vivo.