Electrokinetic Flow Modeling Through Bone Scaffold

Abstract

Fluid flow and mass transfer inside a bioreactor play a pivotal role in growing bone grafts, as cell proliferation is limited by the transport of nutrients and oxygen, as well as the removal of by-products from cells within the scaffold. Traditionally, perfusion bioreactors are used for tissue-engineered bone grafts. In this study, we modeled electrokinetic flow through the graft for tissue-engineered bone grafts and compared it to pressure-driven flows. The study highlights that electrokinetic transport offers several advantages over pressure-driven flow, such as improved oxygen transport and higher shear stress. Additionally, it provides generic benefits, including greater flexibility in control mechanisms, such as easier actuation and manipulation of flow.