Additively Manufactured Bioreactors for Scaffold-Coupled Electrical Stimulation

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cellular Electrophysiology
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• In vitro electrical stimulation (ES) platforms often lack precision and scalability for 3D bioscaffolds.
• Current methods struggle with real-time monitoring and compatibility with complex cellular environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a modular bioreactor system for controlled, low-voltage ES delivery.
• To enable real-time waveform monitoring and live cell imaging within 3D bioscaffolds.
• To provide a reproducible and accessible tool for studying ES-driven cellular behavior.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of bioreactor components using low-cost stereolithography with BioMed Clear resin.
• Integration of conductive graphene foam for scaffold-coupled ES.
• Validation through mechanical, chemical, and cytocompatibility analyses.
• Electrical measurements and live cell calcium imaging.

Main Results:

• Printed components demonstrated high dimensional accuracy and retained integrity post-sterilization.
• The system supported >90% cell viability.
• Electrical measurements confirmed signal fidelity under physiological conditions.
• Calcium imaging showed a >230% fluorescence increase, indicating a robust cellular response to ES.

Conclusions:

• The developed bioreactor system offers a precise, scalable, and compatible platform for ES research in 3D microenvironments.
• This technology facilitates the investigation of cellular responses to electrical cues in electroactive tissues.
• The modular design and low-cost fabrication enhance accessibility for researchers in the field.