BPCPPDYSOE21 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 20: Focus Biological Cells in Microfluidics I

BP 20.1: Talk

Tuesday, March 23, 2021, 12:00–12:20, BPc

Numerical Investigation of Cell Deformation during Bioprinting — •Sebastian Johannes Müller and Stephan Gekle — Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Deutschland

In 3D bioprinting, cells suspended in hydrogel are deposited through a fine nozzle, creating three dimensional biological tissues. Due to the high viscosity of the hydrogel, the cells experience hydrodynamic stresses that deform or damage the cells and can ultimately affect the viability and functionality of the cells in the printed construct.

Using numerical methods, we quantify these deformations in dependency of the flow parameters and cell elasticity. We consider shear thinning fluid rheology and validate our Lattice Boltzmann flow calculations with microfluidic flow experiments of typical hydrogel materials. Our hyperelastic cell, modeled as purely elastic continuum with neo-Hookean force calculations, is validated with experimental data for cells obtained via AFM indentation measurements.

By coupling our cell model with the fluid simulations, we investigate the cell deformation in typical flow scenarios, like capillary and shear flow. As essential part of the printing process, we further simulate the cell flowing through the transition from the printer nozzle into the free hydrogel strand, where additional radial flow components stretch the cell at short time scale.