三维支架材料中软骨细胞生长过程的数值模拟

Numerical Simulation of Chondrocyte Growth in 3-D Scaffolds

摘要:

组织工程是临床上用于修复以及重建受损软骨的一项有广泛应用前景的方法。但是在支架材料内部物质传递仅仅依赖于扩散，这是支架材料中细胞生长的主要限制因素。利用氧扩散-反应基本原理建立了软骨细胞生长过程的数学模型，同时考虑了由于细胞生长引起的扩散系数下降以及空间抑制因素对细胞生长的影响。模拟结果与实验数据吻合良好，表明该模型对材料内部的细胞生长的分析具有较高的可靠性，可用于组织工程生物反应器以及三维多孔支架材料的优化设计。

Abstract:

Tissue engineering is a promising technique to repair or reconstruct the damaged cartilage in clinical use. However, chondrocyte growth is limited by the mass transport in scaffolds as diffusion is likely to be the primary mechanism. In this study, a mathematical model was developed based on oxygen diffusion and reaction to simulate chondrocyte growth. In order to accord with the fact, effective diffusion coefficients and space limitation were considered in this model and good agreement was found between experimental data and mathematical simulations. Furthermore, relationships established in the model system can be used to optimize the situation in real bioreactors and the design of three-dimensional scaffolds.