Perfusion Bioreactor for 3D Cell Culture and Cell Printing

Bioreactor Delivers Nutrients and Removes Cellular Waste Using Capillary Forces

This bioreactor enables the 3D printing and maintenance of living cells via the perfusion of nutrients driven by capillary forces through a standard well plate. 3D cell culture technology has grown rapidly in the past several years with many advantages over 2D cell culture, including allowing researchers and doctors to create bio-realistic microenvironments that are used for bioprinting cells and testing medical treatments. The global 3D cell culture market was estimated at $1.5 billion in 2020 and is predicted to continue growing. Available 3D cell culture systems use polymer scaffolds to allow fluid perfusion, but these systems do not provide access for microscopy and can only maintain viable cells for a few days.

Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a perfusion bioreactor that actively delivers nutrients and removes toxic cellular waste via capillary forces. This perfusion bioreactor allows cells to live longer and enables the testing of cellular responses to specific drug therapies.

Application

This perfusion bioreactor delivers nutrients and removes cellular waste using capillary forces for 3D cell culture and cell printing

Advantages

• Actively removes cellular waste, keeping cells viable for longer periods of time compared to other 3D cell culture systems
• Does not rely on polymer scaffolding, eliminating structural limits to the cell microenvironment and allowing natural cell migration
• Removes the need for pressure- or vacuum-driven flow, simplifying system design and preventing the need for high-maintenance pumps
• Easily produced with standard machining techniques, leading to low costs and disposable use
• Fits standard 12-well and 96-well plates, simplifying commercial production and use

Technology

This perfusion bioreactor for 3D cell culture and cell printing delivers nutrients to cells and removes cellular waste using capillary forces. Fluid is fed by gravity through a narrow opening or microbeads into a traditional well plate containing a liquid-like 3D cell growth medium. As the fluid rises within the well, it connects with a narrow channel and is drawn via capillary forces into a larger, three-dimensional capillary network.