Transmural Flow Bioreactor for Vascular Tissue Engineering

There is a clear need for tissue-engineered arteries for procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafts. In nearly one-third of cases, there is no healthy supply of autologous vasculature for grafting due to preexisting conditions or previous surgical intervention [1]. Studies in our lab have focused on fabricating a “media equivalent” or ME as a precursor to a fully endothelialized bioartificial artery. Vascular grafts cultured in vitro are often done so under static conditions with some degree of mechanical stimulation [2, 3] and are thus likely to operate in a diffusional transport regime for nutrient delivery and metabolite removal. In this study, we present an analysis of dissolved oxygen (DO) transport limitations in a statically cultured ME and bioreactor designs that improve transport by controlled perfusion of medium axially and transmurally through the engineered tissue with the goal of achieving stronger and more uniform tissue.