Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is recognized to play an important role in the brain environment and central nerv-ous system (CNS). At the microscopic level, glial cells and water channel proteins (WCPs), also known as aqua...Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is recognized to play an important role in the brain environment and central nerv-ous system (CNS). At the microscopic level, glial cells and water channel proteins (WCPs), also known as aquaporins (AQPs), are believed to be central in regulating CSF. Furthermore, such elements are postulated to associate with numerous cerebral and neurological pathologies. The novelty of the present research is the attempt to investigate such pathophysi-ological phenomena via a multi scale physical model incorporating mechanisms across all scales, including the AQP effects. The proposed physical multiscale model can explore the relationship between CSF and glial cells via the incorporation of AQPs (as microscopic channels) and elaborate on the macroscopic manifestations of this interplay. This study aims to make a tangible contribution to the understanding of cerebral or neurological pathologies via virtual physiological human (VPH) in silico.展开更多
In this study, Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD) is used to investigate and compare the impact of bioreactor parameters(such as its geometry, medium flow-rate, scaffold configuration) on the local transport phenomena ...In this study, Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD) is used to investigate and compare the impact of bioreactor parameters(such as its geometry, medium flow-rate, scaffold configuration) on the local transport phenomena and, hence, their impact on human mesenchymal stem cell(hM SC) expansion. The geometric characteristics of the TissueFlex174;(Zyoxel Limited, Oxford, UK) microbioreactor were considered to set up a virtual bioreactor containing alginate(in both slab and bead configuration) scaffolds. The bioreactor and scaffolds were seeded with cells that were modelled as glucose consuming entities. The widely used glucose medium, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium(DMEM), supplied at two inlet flow rates of 25 and 100 μl·h^(-1), was modelled as the fluid phase inside the bioreactors. The investigation, based on applying dimensional analysis to this problem, as well as on detailed three-dimensional transient CFD results, revealed that the default bioreactor design and boundary conditions led to internal and external glucose transport, as well as shear stresses, that are conducive to h MSC growth and expansion. Furthermore, results indicated that the ‘top-inout' design(as opposed to its symmetric counterpart) led to higher shear stress for the same media inlet rate(25 μl·h^(-1)), a feature that can be easily exploited to induce shear-dependent differentiation. These findings further confirm the suitability of CFD as a robust design tool.展开更多
文摘Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is recognized to play an important role in the brain environment and central nerv-ous system (CNS). At the microscopic level, glial cells and water channel proteins (WCPs), also known as aquaporins (AQPs), are believed to be central in regulating CSF. Furthermore, such elements are postulated to associate with numerous cerebral and neurological pathologies. The novelty of the present research is the attempt to investigate such pathophysi-ological phenomena via a multi scale physical model incorporating mechanisms across all scales, including the AQP effects. The proposed physical multiscale model can explore the relationship between CSF and glial cells via the incorporation of AQPs (as microscopic channels) and elaborate on the macroscopic manifestations of this interplay. This study aims to make a tangible contribution to the understanding of cerebral or neurological pathologies via virtual physiological human (VPH) in silico.
基金Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Scholarship
文摘In this study, Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD) is used to investigate and compare the impact of bioreactor parameters(such as its geometry, medium flow-rate, scaffold configuration) on the local transport phenomena and, hence, their impact on human mesenchymal stem cell(hM SC) expansion. The geometric characteristics of the TissueFlex174;(Zyoxel Limited, Oxford, UK) microbioreactor were considered to set up a virtual bioreactor containing alginate(in both slab and bead configuration) scaffolds. The bioreactor and scaffolds were seeded with cells that were modelled as glucose consuming entities. The widely used glucose medium, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium(DMEM), supplied at two inlet flow rates of 25 and 100 μl·h^(-1), was modelled as the fluid phase inside the bioreactors. The investigation, based on applying dimensional analysis to this problem, as well as on detailed three-dimensional transient CFD results, revealed that the default bioreactor design and boundary conditions led to internal and external glucose transport, as well as shear stresses, that are conducive to h MSC growth and expansion. Furthermore, results indicated that the ‘top-inout' design(as opposed to its symmetric counterpart) led to higher shear stress for the same media inlet rate(25 μl·h^(-1)), a feature that can be easily exploited to induce shear-dependent differentiation. These findings further confirm the suitability of CFD as a robust design tool.