Simulation of direct perfusion through 3d cellular scaffolds with different porosity

Abstract

The perfusion bioreactor has become an ideal environment for cultivating tissues such as cardiac muscle, liver and cartilage. In this study, a perfusion process was modeled using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The CFD model is based on simplification of the geometry of porous scaffolds, and is designed to predict functions that relate fluid's characteristics, namely wall shear stress level and distribution, pressure drop and permeability, to the porosity of scaffolds. Three group models, corresponding to three different porosities were built. A commercial finite volume code is used to simulate the model. This simulation showed the influence of the geometrical scaffold parameter porosity on the distribution and level of shear stress, pressure drop and mass flow rate. Based on these investigations, the dynamic conditions of a micro fluid passing through the scaffold were characterized for tissue engineering applications.