Design and construction of a low-cost compressive loading and perfusion flow bioreactor

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Tissue Engineering
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Advanced bioreactor systems are crucial for studying cellular responses to mechanical stimuli.
• High costs and complexity of existing systems limit accessibility for many research labs.
• Need for adaptable, user-friendly platforms for mechanical loading and perfusion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and construct a cost-effective, open-source bioreactor for compressive loading and perfusion.
• To validate the performance of the developed bioreactor system.
• To demonstrate a potential application in cell culture under mechanical stress.

Main Methods:

• Designed and built an open-source bioreactor system with a budget under $4000.
• Integrated sensors for real-time monitoring of applied force and displacement.
• Incorporated a system for precise regulation of media perfusion flow rate.

Main Results:

• Successfully constructed a functional bioreactor using readily available materials.
• The device accurately records mechanical parameters (force, displacement) and controls perfusion.
• Demonstrated the bioreactor's utility through a sample application, validating its performance.

Conclusions:

• The developed open-source bioreactor offers an affordable and accessible solution for mechanical cell culture studies.
• Its user-friendly design and modularity support adaptability for diverse research needs.
• This platform facilitates advanced research in mechanobiology and tissue engineering.