JANUS: an open-source 3D printable perfusion bioreactor and numerical model-based design strategy for tissue...

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Tissue Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Bioreactors are crucial for sustaining cell cultures in tissue engineering, managing nutrient and waste exchange.
• Existing bioreactor designs vary significantly, hindering reproducibility and data comparison due to diverse protocols and conditions.
• Integrating sensor and stimulation technologies aims to enhance cellular responses like proliferation and differentiation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an open-source, 3D-printable perfusion bioreactor design.
• To establish a numerical model-driven strategy for optimizing cell culture protocols.
• To enable simultaneous application of electric field and shear stress stimulation for improved cell culture control.

Main Methods:

• Designed and 3D printed an open-source perfusion bioreactor.
• Developed a numerical model to guide protocol development.
• Integrated capacitive-coupled electric field and fluid-induced shear stress stimulation systems.
• Validated stimulation systems experimentally and through numerical predictions.
• Conducted preliminary in vitro validation of the bioreactor's performance.

Main Results:

• The bioreactor design is open-source and 3D printable.
• The numerical model-driven strategy successfully guided protocol development.
• Experimental validation confirmed the bioreactor's ability to deliver electric field and shear stress.
• Results from stimulation systems aligned with numerical predictions.
• Preliminary in vitro tests confirmed the bioreactor supports viable cell cultures.

Conclusions:

• The developed open-source bioreactor and protocol strategy improve control, comparison, and replicability in tissue engineering.
• The integrated stimulation systems are validated and align with numerical models.
• This work provides openly available physical and virtual tools for advancing tissue engineering research.