A Novel Bioreactor for the Mechanical Stimulation of Clinically Relevant Scaffolds for Muscle Tissue Engineering Purposes

Muscular tissue regeneration may be enhanced in vitro by means of mechanical stimulation, inducing cellular alignment and the growth functional fibers. In this work, a novel bioreactor is designed for radial stimulation porcine-derived diaphragmatic scaffolds aiming at development clinically relevant patches. A Finite Element (FE) model membrane developed, considering two different methods gripping muscular patch during i.e., suturing clamping with pliers. Tensile tests are carried out on fresh decellularized samples porcine tissue, fiber-reinforced hyperelastic constitutive assumed to describe behavior Numerical analyses applying pressure evaluating strain phase. The work allows one mechanically stimulate patches direction uniformly up 30% strain. This can achieved adopting pliers clamping. Contrarily, use sutures not advisable, since high levels reached points, exceeding physiological range possibly leading laceration. FE analysis optimization configuration order ensure an efficient transduction stimuli while preventing damage.