# A Live Cell Imaging‐Compatible Bioreactor for the Interrogation of Cellular Responses to Modulated Flow Conditions

## TL;DR

A low-cost 3D cell culture system with live imaging reveals how meningothelial cells respond to fluid flow changes, offering a new tool for studying cell mechanics and disease models.

## Contribution

An open-source 3D perfusion system combining bioprinted scaffolds and live-cell imaging to study cellular responses to fluid flow.

## Key findings

- Meningothelial cells show flow-dependent focal adhesion kinase activation in a 3D model of the subarachnoid space.
- The system mimics tissue-like environments, enabling long-term studies of cellular responses to mechanical cues.
- The model has potential for creating impactful cell biological and pathophysiological studies.

## Abstract

Although being invaluable tools in biomedical research, traditional 2D cell culture models often fail in recapitulating complex environments, limiting their predictive power. To address this limitation, it have developed an open‐source, low‐cost system that combines long‐term 3D cell culture under controlled perfusion conditions with live‐cell imaging. By integrating bioprinted extracellular matrix‐based scaffolds, this study mimics mechanical and biochemical cues experienced by cells within complex tissue contexts. Here, this system is used to generate a model of the cerebrospinal fluid‐filled subarachnoid space to study responses of resident cell types such as meningothelial cells to altered fluid flow conditions. Using fluorescent biosensors, it demonstrates that meningothelial cells respond to modulated fluid flow by differentially activating focal adhesion kinase, a key mechanosensor. The model thus not only provides a powerful platform for investigating the impact of mechanical and other cues on cellular responses, but also bears great potential for the generation of impactful cell biological and pathophysiological models.

An open‐source, low‐cost 3D perfusion system integrating bioprinted scaffolds and live‐imaging overcomes 2D culture limitations. Modeling the cerebrospinal fluid‐filled subarachnoid space, it reveals flow‐dependent focal adhesion kinase activation in meningothelial cells, demonstrating a powerful platform for studying mechanobiology and creating pathophysiological models.