Design considerations and challenges for mechanical stretch bioreactors in tissue engineering

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Tissue Engineering
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Increasing life expectancy and an aging population create a demand for functional grafts.
• Engineered tissues are a promising alternative, mimicking native tissue function.
• Cyclic stretch is vital for developing engineered tissues like cardiac, muscle, and bone tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review various designs of stretch bioreactors and scaffolds for tissue engineering.
• To offer insights for future improvements in stretch bioreactor and scaffold technology.
• To discuss the optimization of mechanical conditions for engineered tissue development.

Main Methods:

• Summarizing requirements and configurations of stretch bioreactors.
• Presenting actuating and motion transforming systems, and measurement techniques for loads and deformations.
• Discussing scaffold materials (decellularized tissues, hydrogels, polymers) and fabrication technologies (electrospinning, 3D bioprinting).

Main Results:

• Various stretch bioreactor designs and scaffold fabrication techniques are analyzed.
• Key considerations for culture chambers, nutrient exchange, and tissue-specific regimens are covered.
• The importance of scaffolds in providing biophysical microenvironments is highlighted.

Conclusions:

• Stretch bioreactors and scaffolds are essential components in tissue engineering.
• Improvements in bioreactor design and scaffold fabrication are needed for enhanced tissue development.
• This review provides a foundation for future advancements in the field.