Application Note: Perfusion Culture Of Cell-Seeded 3D Scaffolds For Tissue Engineering

By R. Santoro, B. Pippenger, I. Martin and D. Wendt, Department of Surgery and Research, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

Since oxygen has a low solubility in culture medium it must be supplied to cells within 3D scaffolds via constant perfusion of the medium. The oxygen content of the medium before and after having passed by the cells can then help to determine whether the flow rate applied is sufficient. PreSens flow-through cells with integrated chemical optical sensors can be incorporated in the construct inlet and outlet and allow in-line measurement of oxygen tension. Normoxic oxygen supply creates homogenous grafts with a uniform distribution of cells.