Pneumatic Driven Pulsatile Perfusion Bioreactor for Tissue Engineered Vascular Replacements

Shear stress simulated in the bioreactor has a positive effect on the modulation of endothelial cells, their growth and gene expression. The aim of this work is to design and characterize a pressure wave-controlled perfusion system for stimulating both planar and tubular tissue in the culture chamber. This system must be able to deliver both small and large flow rates. Designed circuit consists of two large volume cartridges that alternately filled with culture medium. The flow direction is controlled by 3-way valves which are controlled by servo motors. The flow reading is based on the differential intensity of the LEDs through the filled and empty syringe. Servo motor control and signal processing from the photodiodes was realized on the Arduino platform. The assembled circuit was tested in a laboratory environment and subsequently used in a culture experiment with immortalized cells of the mouse endothelial line MS-1.