3D-Printed Microfluidic Bioreactor Incorporating Electrospun Scaffolds for Creating an Enhanced Kidney Epithelial Cell Microenvironment

Chronic kidney disease stands as a significant global health challenge, exacerbated by an ongoing scarcity of available organs for transplantation. Kidney tissue engineering is emerging as a promising innovation in the development of in vitro kidney models, which can enhance discoveries of new drug treatment strategies. Current efforts are mainly focused on 2D cell cultures, and substantial emphasis has been placed on the use of extracellular matrix materials as a 3D scaffolding environment. In this study, we propose an innovative approach to controlling a kidney cell microenvironment that utilizes a 3D-printed bioreactor, in conjunction with electrospun PCL scaffolds. Our novel bioreactor design has been engineered to apply a consistent average shear stress distribution across the scaffold surface within a dual-chamber configuration. This shear stress distribution was designed with the use of computational fluid dynamics and a modified fluid viscosity that mimics blood properties. Herein, we demonstrate the capacity of this system to create a microenvironment that can sustain kidney cells while promoting the upregulation of vital transmembrane and tight junction genes. Notably, this device has the potential to represent renal microenvironments, positioning it as a valuable tool in the development of in vitro kidney models.