TY - JOUR
T1 - Articular cartilage bioreactors and bioprocesses
AU - Darling, Eric M.
AU - Athanasiou, Kyriacos A.
PY - 2003/2
Y1 - 2003/2
N2 - This review summarizes the major approaches for developing articular cartilage, using bioreactors and mechanical stimuli. Cartilage cells live in an environment heavily influenced by mechanical forces. The development of cartilaginous tissue is dependent on the environment that surrounds it, both in vivo and in vitro. Chondrocytes must be cultured in a way that gives them the proper concentration of nutrients and oxygen while removing wastes. A mechanical force must also be applied during the culturing process to produce a phenotypically correct tissue. Four main types of forces are currently used in cartilage-culturing processes: hydrostatic pressure, direct compression, "high"shear fluid environments, and "low"-shear fluid environments. All these forces have been integrated into culturing devices that serve as bioreactors for articular cartilage. The strengths and weaknesses of each device and stimulus are explored, as is the future of cartilage bioreactors.
AB - This review summarizes the major approaches for developing articular cartilage, using bioreactors and mechanical stimuli. Cartilage cells live in an environment heavily influenced by mechanical forces. The development of cartilaginous tissue is dependent on the environment that surrounds it, both in vivo and in vitro. Chondrocytes must be cultured in a way that gives them the proper concentration of nutrients and oxygen while removing wastes. A mechanical force must also be applied during the culturing process to produce a phenotypically correct tissue. Four main types of forces are currently used in cartilage-culturing processes: hydrostatic pressure, direct compression, "high"shear fluid environments, and "low"-shear fluid environments. All these forces have been integrated into culturing devices that serve as bioreactors for articular cartilage. The strengths and weaknesses of each device and stimulus are explored, as is the future of cartilage bioreactors.
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U2 - 10.1089/107632703762687492
DO - 10.1089/107632703762687492
M3 - Article
C2 - 12625950
AN - SCOPUS:0037326275
VL - 9
SP - 9
EP - 26
JO - Tissue Engineering
JF - Tissue Engineering
SN - 1076-3279
IS - 1
ER -