UCLA

This research is part of an interdisciplinary project to achieve composite tissue transplantation through novel technology that induces the growth of thick, immunocompatible, tissue implants that are compatible with the patient's immune system. While the common approach to growing cells in vitro utilizes scaffolds embedded in perfusion bioreactors, state of the art methods still suffer from many limitations such as failing to accommodate the dynamical aspect where different stages of development lead to changes in the material properties. The aim of this work is to introduce a new generation of perfusion bioreactors not bound by current limitations. This is achieved by developing noninvasive feedback visualization techniques, new scaffold-patterning technology, new approach to bioreactors design, and control and optimization methods. These novel tools presented herein will contribute to the development of stable vascular networks that are functionally competent to sustain physiological flow and permeate tissue grafts.