关键词: 组织工程支架, 微管流场, 数值模拟

Abstract: The microtubule structure of the bone scaffold has a considerable influence on the flow of nutrient solution and cells. The flow status of nutrient solution and cells in microtubules with different sizes was numerically simulated by using software Fluent. Velocity distribution and pressure distribution in the microtubule structure of the bone scaffold were obtained. The fluid velocity of the main pipe decreased with increasing pipe depth from inlet to outlet. The fluid velocity of the upper end of Volkmann tubes was faster than that of the lower end，but slower than that of the main pipe at the same height. A slow flowing area was observed in the intersection of the Harvard’s tube and the first line Volkmann tube. The velocity of Harvard’s tube increased from the intersection of the third line Volkmann tube and Harvard’s tube. The flowing slow area at the top of the Harvard’s tubes decreased as the length of Volkmann tubes increased. The velocity of Volkmann tubes was increasing and the flowing velocity of each tube was more uniform with the increase of the diameter of the Volkmann tubes. With increasing angle between Volkmann tubes and main pipe，the flow velocity of each scaffold tube was more uniform which was favorable for the transport of cells and nutrient solution in the pipe. In the range of this paper，the optimal parameters of bone scaffold structure were obtained as follows：Volkmann length of 3mm，diameter of 0.6mm and the angle between Volkmann tubes and the main pipe of 90°.

Key words: tissue engineering, scaffolds, flow field of microtubule, numerical simulation