Fluid-induced low shear stress improves cartilage like tissue fabrication by encapsulating chondrocytes

In the recent years, there has been considerable development in the regenerative medicine, which aims to repair, regenerate, and improve injured articular cartilage. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of flow-induced shear stress in perfusion bioreactor on alginate encapsulating chondrocytes. The shear stress imposed on the cells in the culture chamber of bioreactor was predicted with computational fluid dynamic. Bovine nasal chondrocytes were isolated and expanded to obtain a pellet. The cell pellet was resuspends in alginate solution, transferred to the culture chamber, and dynamically cultured under direct perfusion. At the end of culture, tissue constructs were examined histologically and by immunohistochemistry. The results of computational fluid dynamic modeling revealed that maximum wall shear stress was 4.820 × 10 −3 Pascal. Macroscopic views of the alginate/chondrocyte beads suggested that it possessed constant shape but were flexible. Under inverted microscope, round shape of chondrocyte observed. Cell distribution was homogeneous throughout the scaffold. Tissue construct subjected to shear showed morphological features, which are characteristic for natural cartilage. Immunohistochemistry results revealed immunopositivity for type II collagens in tissue constructs samples. Flow induced shear stress in the perfusion bioreactor and chnondrocyte encapsulation provide environment to support cell growth, and tissue regeneration and improve cartilage like tissue fabrication.