Design, construction and validation of a new generation of bioreactors for tissue engineering applications

Abstract

The thesis reports on the design, fabrication and validation of a new generation of bioreactors for cell culture stimulation, in order to improve cell proliferation in advanced tissue engineering strategies. Bioreactors are developed to take advantage of responsive materials allowing to mimic cell microenvironments, resembling some of the most common physical stimuli within the human body. Some stimuli can be produced by polymer-based scaffolds such as magnetoelectric, which can work as mechanical and electrical actuators.Two types of bioreactors were developed: one for bone tissue engineering through magnetoelectric stimulation (through mechanical vibration and piezoelectricity) and another for muscle tissue engineering through mechanical stretching and controlled current impulses.This project encompasses several fields of engineering such as device engineering, design, mechanics and electronics, having also into account proper material selection and the final biomedical application.