Structural optimization design of perfusion bioreactors with multilayer circular parallel plates scaffold

Perfusion bioreactors with multilayer circular parallel plates scaffold have the potential to provide a considerable scalability in cells' cultivation for tissue engineering. By now, relatively little attention has been focused on the uniform distribution of fluid shear stress (FSS) among the parallel plates. However, the magnitude of FSS has a significant effect on both proliferation and differentiation of cells. This paper analyses the relationship between the structural parameters of the scaffold and the distribution of FSS among the plates and then presents an approach to optimize the flow field within the bioreactors. By regulating the structural parameters of the scaffold, the uniform distribution of FSS on the 23-layers plates can be achieved. The resolution of FSS can be up to 0.001 Pa and the range of error restrained within +/- 0.00015 Pa. By means of structural optimization, the discrepancy of the flow field among the plates can be effectively diminished.