Geometry optimization of a fibrous scaffold based on mathematical modelling and CFD simulation of a dynamic cell culture

Abstract In tissue engineering, the development of a tissue essentially depends on supply of an adequate amount of nutrients and the design of a proper biophysical micro-environment for cells. The limitation of the available initial number of cells, expensive substances and time consuming experiments are the main bottlenecks in this type of processes. In this regard, mathematical modelling and computational fluid dynamics simulation (CFD) are powerful tools to identify an efficient and optimized design by providing reliable insights of the process. This study presents a mathematical model and CFD simulation of cartilage cell culture under a perfusion flow, which allows not only to characterize the supply of nutrients and metabolic products inside a fibrous scaffold, but also to assess the overall culture condition and predict the cell growth rate. Afterwards, the simulation results supported finding an optimized design of the scaffold within a new mathematical optimization algorithm that is proposed. The main concept of this optimization routine is to maintain a large effective surface while simultaneously keeping the shear stress level in an operating range that is expected to be supporting growth. Therewith, it should be possible to gradually reach improved culture efficiency as defined in the objective function.