Abstract: The invention relates to a method of in vitro culturing or expanding human or animal tissue (2, 2?). The method comprises: obtaining a sample of human or animal tissue; downsizing tissue (21, 21?) of the sample; generating an assembly by placing the downsized tissue on a scaffold or hydrogel (22, 22?); arranging the assembly inside a culture chamber of a 3D perfusion system (23, 23?); and perfusing the assembly in the 3D perfusion system for a predefined time (24, 24?). The method according to the invention allows for preparing and directly culturing in vitro fresh tissue specimens for a high efficient in vitro culturing using a perfused bioreactor system.

Abstract: A bioreactor for preferably three-dimensional cell culturing comprises a scaffold chamber, a first tube, a second tube and a first valve with a scaffold adapter, a tube adapter and a medium adapter. The first valve has a housing with a longitudinal female portion ending in an opening and a longitudinal actuator being arranged through the opening of the female portion of the housing such that the actuator is arranged partially inside the housing and partially outside the housing, wherein the actuator of the first valve is axially moveable relative to the housing of the first valve between a first position in which the first valve is in the operation position and a second position in which the first valve is in the medium change position. By providing the actuators in the first valve which is applied by axial movements, operation of the bioreactor can be comparably simple and safe.