(143b) A Microreactor System for Tissue Culture? Patterns of Colonization and Growth of Mammalian Cells Cultured over Rotating Platforms

Tissue Engineering is a hot research area nowadays. Particularly, the study of strategies to better control the orientation of growth of mammalian cells into tissues is a theme of active research. In this communication, we investigate the patterns of colonization and growth of anchorage dependant mammalian cells under the influence of a low speed rotational motion. This investigation aims to suggest general guidelines, based on experimental evidence, for the design of mini and/or micro-reactors for tissue engineering applications. Results from different experiments are reported. In our colonization studies, stem cells and endothelial cells were cultured in 14 cm glass Petri dishes imprinted with different patterns, and rotated at 0, 3, 5, 8 RPM. The effect of rotational speed and texture on the growth rate and association patterns observed is reported and discussed. In general, cells cultured at low rotational speeds (3 and 5 RPM) grow faster and cover the culture area more homogeneously than those cultured at 0 or 8 RPM. Differences in colonization patterns are explained in terms of local flow effects. In our growth rate experiments, cells cultured in regular cell culture bottles are exposed to different values of rotational motion. Cells in bottles rotated at moderate motion (3 RPM) grow faster and in a more homogeneous and ordered patterns that those cultured in the traditional static way . Images document the differences in morphology and cell pattering observed.