Development of a bilayer ring system for achieving high strain in commercial rheometers

Mechanical stimulation of cell cultures has been shown be an effective means of enhancing ECM production. ECM produced from vocal fold fibroblast cultures has the potential for therapeutic use for vocal fold repair. However, current bioreactor designs generally fail to produce physiological relevant frequency and strain values. Here we present an approach for using commercial oscillatory rheometers and an elastic ring bilayer system to produce physiologically relevant strain values at frequencies in the range of 20-100 Hz. We demonstrate the ability to target specific strain and frequency values by manipulating system parameters, and also show that it is possible to maintain high oscillatory strains for extended periods of time. Such a system could be used to mechanically stimulate cell cultures contained within gel carrier systems and has the potential to be extended to other applications requiring high strains at low frequencies.