Segmented Bioreactor for Osteochondral Tissue Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for studying osteoarthritis (OA) focus on either cartilage or bone components of the articular joint, failing to account for the interactive nature of the osteochondral tissue complex, which is crucial for understanding OA progression.
Innovation Solution
A 3-dimensional (3D) microsystem is developed within a bioreactor to model the osteochondral complex, allowing for the simultaneous growth and study of cartilage and bone tissues in a controlled environment with separate nutrient supply and mechanical loading capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate studies are conducted on cartilage or bone components, then each tissue can be studied in detail, but the interactive nature of the osteochondral tissue complex cannot be captured
Solution Approach 1:
The bioreactor is divided into separate upper and lower chambers that can be independently controlled. The upper chamber contains cartilage tissue while the lower chamber contains bone tissue, allowing each tissue to be cultured separately with its own nutrient supply and mechanical loading conditions while maintaining the ability to study their interactions through the shared system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested chamber configuration where the upper and lower chambers are integrated within a single bioreactor system. The chambers are separated by a partition wall with controlled permeability, allowing the system to contain multiple tissue types in a hierarchical arrangement that facilitates both independent study and interaction analysis.
2Reliability
If a 3D microsystem is used to model the osteochondral complex, then physiological interactions between bone and cartilage can be mimicked, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bioreactor employs different media compositions and flow rates in the upper and lower chambers tailored to the specific requirements of cartilage and bone tissues respectively. The partition wall incorporates selective permeability features that allow controlled exchange of molecules between chambers, creating locally optimized environments that maintain physiological interactions while managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional 2D tissue culture to a 3D microsystem architecture with vertically stacked chambers. This dimensional arrangement allows simultaneous cultivation of multiple tissue types in space-separated but functionally connected environments, enabling physiological interaction modeling without proportionally increasing operational complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If independent nutrient supply is provided to different tissues, then each tissue receives optimal nutrients, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bioreactor incorporates dynamic fluid delivery capabilities with independent control of media flow rates, composition, and timing for each chamber. The system can adjust nutrient supply in real-time based on tissue-specific requirements and experimental conditions, providing adaptability while using programmable control mechanisms to manage system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid delivery system is designed with universal components that can serve multiple functions - the same pump and tubing infrastructure delivers different media to different chambers, and the control system can be programmed for various experimental protocols. This multi-functionality enables flexible nutrient delivery without proportionally increasing hardware complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are various bioreactor devices and systems for growing cellular material, and related methods of growing cellular material. In some cases, a system can include a well plate having a plurality of wells and a bioreactor situated in each well of the well plate. In some cases, a bioreactor can include an inner body which divides the bioreactor into several distinct chambers and facilitates the growth of a multi-tissue sample in the bioreactor. In some cases, a system can include a mechanical actuator situated to mechanically stress tissues grown in a bioreactor.