Model-based data analysis of tissue growth in thin 3D printed scaffolds

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Cell Biology
• Tissue Engineering
• Mathematical Modeling

Background:

• Three-dimensional (3D) printed scaffolds offer realistic geometries for studying cell behavior, surpassing 2D cultures.
• Quantifying cell proliferation and migration in these scaffolds is crucial for understanding experimental condition effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize cell proliferation and migration in 3D printed scaffolds.
• To introduce and calibrate a mathematical model for quantifying tissue growth.
• To assess the suitability of reaction-diffusion models for 3D scaffold tissue growth.

Main Methods:

• Melt electro-written scaffolds with varying square pore sizes were used for osteoblastic cell culture.
• Detailed temporal measurements of cell density, tissue coverage, and geometry were collected.
• A Porous-Fisher reaction-diffusion equation was employed and calibrated using profile likelihood analysis.

Main Results:

• Cell proliferation rate and steady-state cell density were consistent across different pore sizes.
• The Porous-Fisher model effectively captured cell density and tissue coverage dynamics.
• The model did not fully capture geometric features like tissue interface circularity.

Conclusions:

• The Porous-Fisher model provides a valuable tool for analyzing tissue growth in 3D scaffolds, though refinements are needed.
• Two distinct stages of tissue growth were identified.
• Findings offer guidance for future experiments in 3D scaffold-based tissue engineering.