Disclosed herein is a method of examining tissue growth and / or conditioning and / or adhesion properties of cells on a synthetic and / or natural
scaffold (30) as well as a
perfusion bioreactor (10) for use in this method. The method comprises the following steps: fixing a
scaffold (30) to a holding means (28) disposed or disposable in a
perfusion bioreactor (10), generating a flow of
nutrition solution along the surface of said
scaffold (30) held by said holding means (28), generating and / or maintaining physiological conditions in said
nutrition solution flowing along said scaffold (30) using heat exchange means (20, 24, 48, 50) and / or
gas exchange means (52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64) associated with said
bioreactor (10), such as to allow growth and / or conditioning of cells on said scaffold (30), and optically inspecting, in particular by
microscopy, the scaffold (30) held by said holding means (28) through a window (66, 68, 70, 72) provided in said
perfusion bioreactor (10) at different times or continuously during tissue growth and / or conditioning of cells on said scaffold (30) while maintaining said physiological conditions in said
perfusion bioreactor (10).