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Optimal metabolite transport in hollow fibre membrane bioreactors

Abstract:

Hollow fibre membrane bioreactors (HFMBs) provide a fast and efficient method for engineering functional tissue for use in medical treatments. Flow is utilised to overcome mass transport limitations by perfusing nutrient-rich culture medium through the fibre lumen, which can then transport along the fibre lumen or across the porous membrane wall. Cells seeded at the outer membrane wall consume the nutrient and subsequently produce waste metabolites, which are transported away through an external extra-capillary space (ECS) along with excess nutrient. We present and investigate a 2D axisymmetric model for fluid flow and solute transport through a single fibre bioreactor configuration, with cells seeded to the external fibre wall. Fluid flow is modelled by steady lubrication and Darcy equations, which are coupled to the solute transport problem modelled by a system of advection-diffusion equations, supplemented with a reaction term to model the cell layer. Our model analysis reveals how spatially varying wall permeability distributions can be utilised to provide uniform nutrient delivery to a spatially uniform, homogeneous cell population. We also reveal how maximising the transmural pressure drop across the membrane wall is the dominant mechanism for waste removal rather than traditional experimental methods of flushing the ECS.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1017/flo.2024.18

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Mathematical Institute
Oxford college:
St Anne's College
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-5285-0523


Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Journal:
Flow: Applications of Fluid Mechanics More from this journal
Volume:
4
Article number:
E18
Publication date:
2024-06-14
Acceptance date:
2024-06-13
DOI:
EISSN:
2633-4259


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
2008212
Local pid:
pubs:2008212
Deposit date:
2024-06-14

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