Bioreactor for cell growth and associated methods

A system for growing and maintaining cells comprising:

• a bioreactor including:
• a first compartment having a first inlet, a first outlet in fluid communication with the first inlet, and a first porous material disposed within the first compartment;
• a second compartment adjacent the first compartment including a second inlet, a second outlet in fluid communication with the second inlet, and a second porous material disposed within the second compartment;
• and
• a hydrogel material seeded with cells, disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment, and at least partially supported on a first surface of the hydrogel material by the first porous material and on an opposite, second surface of the hydrogel material by the second porous material;
• a source of a first media solution in fluid communication with the first inlet;
• and
• a source of a second media solution that is different than the first media solution, wherein the source of the second media solution is in fluid communication with the source of the first media solution and at least one of the first and second inlets;
• wherein propagation of at least the first media solution through the first compartment and propagation of the second media solution through the second compartment establishes a controlled gradient across a thickness of the hydrogel material.

A method of growing cells comprising:

• providing a three-dimensional matrix seeded with cells;
• propagating a first media stream having a first osmolality across a first surface of the matrix;
• propagating a second media stream having a second osmolality across a second surface of the matrix that is opposite the first surface;
• and
• creating an osmotic pressure gradient within the matrix between the first surface and the second surface by migration of the first media stream at least partially into the matrix through the first surface and migration of the second media stream at least partially into the matrix through the second surface;
• wherein the creation of the osmotic pressure gradient within the matrix encourages growth of the cells.

A method of growing cells comprising:

• providing a hydrogel material seeded with chondrocyte cells disposed between a first porous material and a second porous material;
• propagating a first media stream at a predetermined flow rate and a predetermined osmolality through the first porous material;
• propagating a second media stream at a predetermined flow rate and a predetermined osmolality through the second porous material;
• and
• varying the osmolality of the first media stream and maintaining the osmolality of the second media stream generally constant to create an oscillating osmotic pressure gradient across the hydrogel material.

A method of growing cells comprising:

• providing a hydrogel material seeded with cells disposed between a first porous material and a second porous material;
• propagating a first media stream having a first oxygen content through the first porous material;
• propagating a second media stream having a second oxygen content through the second porous material;
• and
• creating an oxygen tension gradient within the matrix between a first surface of the hydrogel that is in contact with the first porous material and a second surface of the hydrogel that is in contact with the second porous material by migration of the first media stream at least partially into the matrix through the first surface and migration of the second media stream at least partially into the matrix through the second surface;
• wherein the creation of the oxygen tension gradient within the matrix encourages growth of the cells.