Finite Element Analysis of Fluid Flow through a Porous Scaffold in a Perfusion Bioreactor

The dynamic physical environment and geometric architecture required for tissue engineering can be achieved by combining tissue engineering scaffold and biological reactors. These bioreactors are used to perform mechanical stimulation on cells to create tissue. These cells are planted on the surface of the scaffold. In this system, the amount and distribution of mechanical stimulation applied to cells depend on the scaffold’s microstructure. The geometry of the designed scaffold depends on two independent parameters. By changing these independent parameters, three scaffolds with different porosity are created. A flow rate of 0.05 ml/min has been used to perfuse the bioreactor. Simulations performed under steady-state conditions using continuity and Navier-Stokes equations. Based on the results, there was an increase in flow within the scaffold with the lowest porosity up to 10 times. The maximum wall shear stress and flow velocity were observed in the scaffold with the lowest porosity. The maximum wall shear stress on the scaffold with the highest porosity was 4.95×10-7 kPa. According to the findings, in order to apply the appropriate shear stress on cells and maintain a uniform pressure gradient across the scaffold, porosity can be increased to some extent that does not damage the ideal surface area to volume ratio.