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Design of a Biaxial Mechanical Loading Bioreactor for Tissue Engineering
Published on: April 25, 2013
Development of a mechanical testing and loading system for trabecular bone studies for long term culture
D B Jones1, E Broeckmann, T Pohl
1Department of Experimental Orthopaedics and Biomechanics, University of Marburg, Germany. jones@med.uni-marburg.de
European Cells & Materials
|October 17, 2003
Summary
A new mechanical loading system enables precise study of trabecular bone and cartilage mechanical properties under controlled conditions. This system offers accurate real-time mechanical property measurement for long-term tissue engineering research.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Tissue Engineering
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Studying mechanical properties of trabecular bone and cartilage is crucial for understanding tissue health and disease.
- Existing systems often lack the precision and long-term capabilities required for comprehensive analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel mechanical loading and measurement system for studying trabecular bone and cartilage.
- To enable precise, long-term investigations of bone and cartilage mechanical behavior under controlled physiological conditions.
Main Methods:
- Development of a mechanical loading system with +/-3% accuracy.
- Integration with a trabecular bone diffusion culture-loading chamber.
- System designed for compressive strain or force application and deformation measurement.
- Capability to load bone cylinders at 0.1 Hz to 50 Hz with amplitudes over 7,000 microepsilon.
Main Results:
- The developed system provides highly accurate mechanical loading and measurement.
- Real-time assessment of mechanical properties, including visco-elastic properties, is achievable.
- The system demonstrates precision, reproducibility, and has undergone rigorous calibration.
Conclusions:
- The novel system offers a robust platform for studying mechanical properties of bone and cartilage.
- It facilitates long-term investigations under controlled culture and loading, advancing tissue engineering research.
- Further studies will explore long-term culture and mechanical responses to various loading patterns.
