Graphical Abstract

Project Overview

Developing large, clinically viable tissue constructs in tissue engineering is heavily constrained by the problem of hypoxia (lack of oxygen) in the scaffold’s interior. Without sufficient mass transport, cells in the core die, preventing the creation of large, functional tissues. This project introduced a highly effective architectural solution: incorporating a strategic channel configuration directly into 3D porous silk scaffolds. Through advanced numerical simulations, we investigated the optimal design parameters (channel diameter and pitch) required to eliminate these hypoxic dead zones and ensure homogeneous oxygen and nutrient delivery throughout the entire construct.

Major Outcomes

• Hypoxia Elimination: Successfully demonstrated the use of channeled architecture to eliminate hypoxic regions within the deep interior of large 3D porous scaffolds.
• Optimal Channel Design: Determined the ideal diameter and pitch of the internal channels necessary to maximize oxygen concentration and uniformity throughout the scaffold.
• Mass Transport Enhancement: The channel configuration was proven to significantly enhance mass transport of oxygen and nutrients across the entire tissue volume.
• In Silico Proof-of-Concept: Provided a computational blueprint for designing clinically relevant tissue scaffolds that achieve homogeneous cellular viability and function.

SEM images of channeled scaffold.

Human G292 osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cell distribution profile on channeled scaffold.

Paper Source

To access the paper, please click here.