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Design and application of an oscillatory compression device for cell constructs
Author(s) -
Cassino Theresa R.,
Anderson Roger,
Love Brian J.,
Huckle William R.,
Seamans Diane K.,
ForstenWilliams Kimberly
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.21422
Subject(s) - compression (physics) , materials science , strain (injury) , biomedical engineering , load cell , chondrocyte , waveform , modulus , viscoelasticity , parametric statistics , composite material , structural engineering , chemistry , in vitro , computer science , mathematics , anatomy , biology , biochemistry , medicine , engineering , telecommunications , radar , statistics
Mechanical compression has been shown to impact cell activity; however a need for a single device to perform a broader range of parametric studies exists. We have developed an oscillatory displacement controlled device to uniaxially strain cell constructs under both static and dynamic compression and used this device to investigate gene expression in cell constructs. The device has a wide stroke (0.25–4 mm) and frequency range (0.1–3 Hz) and several loading waveforms are possible. Alginate cellular constructs with embedded equine chondrocytes were tested and viability was maintained for the 24 h test period. Off‐line mechanical testing is described and a modulus value of 18.2 ± 1.3 kPa found for alginate disks which indicates the level of stress achieved with this deformation profile. Static (15% strain) and dynamic (15% strain, 1 Hz, triangle waveform) testing of chondrocyte constructs was performed and static compression showed significantly higher collagen II expression than dynamic using quantitative RT‐PCR. In contrast, differences in matrix metalloproteinase‐3 (MMP‐3) expression were statistically insignificant. These studies indicate the utility of our device for studying cell activity in response to compression and suggest further studies regarding how the load and strain spectrum impact chondrocyte activity. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007; 98: 211–220. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.