#$%^&*AU2014215934A120160121.pdf#####ABSTRACT There is disclosed a method of forming a tissue engineered construct, a bioreactor for forming a tissue engineered construct, and a tissue engineered construct itself. A disclosed method of forming an implantable tissue engineered construct comprises the steps of: seeding a scaffold with cells to form a tissue construct locating the tissue construct in a space defined by a tissue construct support element locating the tissue construct support element within a bioreactor and operating a load applicator of the bioreactor to apply a cyclical compressive mechanical load to the tissue construct, to stimulate the deposition of tissue matrix in the tissue construct in which the tissue construct, the tissue construct support element and the load applicator are arranged so that the load applicator can at least initially contact both the tissue construct and the tissue construct support element, so that at least part of a total load generated by the load applicator is borne by the tissue construct support element.(0 ~ >~C~)7 <4
