A simulation model for the growth of engineered cartilage on polymeric scaffolds

A mathematical model to simulate the growth of engineered cartilage on polymeric scaffold performed in rotating bioreactors has been developed. The model, based upon the material balance for the nutrient species (oxygen) and the primary extra-cellular matrix product (GAG), accounts for population balances to simulate cell proliferation and its distribution within the polymeric scaffold. A comparison between model results and literature experimental data in terms of GAG contents and its distribution within the tissue construct has been performed. All model parameters are taken from the literature except for the constant of the time rate of mass change appearing in the proposed population balance which has been adjusted to reproduce the experimental data concerning the tissue culture performed at 80 mm Hg of oxygen partial pressure. The predictive capability of the model has been also demonstrated by comparison with experimental data obtained for a different value of oxygen partial pressure (40 mm Hg)