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Abstract
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been widely studied for biomedical research and clinical applications, yet the extent of their application is still being investigated. In addition to MSCs, the products they secrete (proteins, exosomes, etc.) are also widely beneficial for therapeutic application, thus it is important to ensure reliable and efficient production of MSCs. Bioreactors are used for growing large numbers of cells or preparing cells in vitro for potential in vivo application. The aim of this work was to optimize a custom bioreactor designed to apply dynamic force to stimulate cells towards increasing production of cell-secreted products during expansion. Using computational fluid dynamics, the custom bioreactor was modeled, and necessary inputs were determined through computer simulation (modulating flow rates, culture duration, microenvironmental characteristics and applied forces). A newly configured bioreactor setup was designed, and proof-of-concept studies were performed assessing feasibility for optimal production of MSCs and their secreted products.