Mechanical Stimulation in Tendon Tissue Engineering

Hagfish slime probably isn't the first place you'd look for new hydrogel materials...

But the protein threads inside them are mechanically interesting! They work in water, they stretch, and they have inspired researchers from Utah State University to ask whether recombinant versions of those proteins could be spun into useful hydrated fibres.

The team produced recombinant hagfish intermediate filament hydrogel fibres, then tested how their mechanics changed with protein composition, concentration, and water chemistry.

Our CellScale #MicroTester was used to perform submerged hydrogel fibre mechanical testing on individual fibres held across a custom support gap.

💡 What stands out:

The fibres showed tunable mechanical behaviour in water, with elastic modulus values ranging from about 106 to 1041 kPa depending on the formulation and test condition. Saltwater conditions also appeared to shift the mechanical response, likely because ions in the bath affected the hydrated fibre network.

We broke down how the fibres were made, how the MicroTester was used for the submerged bending setup, and what changed in the mechanical results in the full write-up below 👇

https://lnkd.in/gPpYVF58

#HydrogelTesting #USUAggies #UtahStateUniversity #Biomaterials #MechanicalTesting #MicroMechanicalTesting #ProteinEngineering

Mechanical Stimulation in Tendon Tissue Engineering

Tendon tissue engineering often looks straightforward on paper. Make an aligned scaffold, seed cells, add a differentiation cue, then wait for the construct to move in the right direction. In practice, it usually gets messier than that.

Tendon cells and tendon-like cells do not just sit in a fibrous environment. They are pulled, relaxed, reoriented, and exposed to a relatively low-oxygen niche. Static culture can capture part of that picture, but not much of the mechanical part.

A recent study in Advanced NanoBiomed Research took that problem seriously.

The authors built an aligned electrospun scaffold system with GDF-7-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles, then compared static culture with dynamically loaded culture under both atmospheric and physiological oxygen conditions. The dynamic loading step was done using the CellScale MechanoCulture T6, which the group used to apply controlled uniaxial strain to cell-seeded scaffolds over a 10-day culture period. What emerges from the paper is less a single dramatic result than a fairly convincing case that mechanical stimulation in tendon tissue engineering becomes more informative when it is combined with aligned topography, controlled oxygen tension, and sustained biochemical signalling.

The study focused on two cell populations: human mesenchymal stromal cells, or MSCs, and porcine tendon progenitor stem cells, or TPSCs. Both were seeded onto aligned polycaprolactone scaffolds that had been functionalized with GDF-7-loaded nanoparticles. From there, the authors looked at cell growth, scaffold mechanics, and tenogenic markers to see how far dynamic culture could push the system compared with static controls.

Is your “tissue-mimicking” print material already behaving differently than the real thing?

In a new University of Toronto & Toronto Metropolitan University study, researchers compared 3D printed elastomers and silicone to native human ascending aorta using equi-biaxial tensile testing on a CellScale BioTester, then measured pressure drop across printed adult and pediatric tri-leaflet valves.

NC-203™: The latest addition to the XcytoMatic® platform

The NucleoCounter® NC-203™ is the 4th generation of ChemoMetec’s cassette-based instruments, introducing even more accurate, faster, and more consistent analysis of complex samples.

Developed to align with the XcytoMatic® platform, the NC-203™ combines proven cassette-based technology with brightfield and fluorescence imaging to consistently deliver precise cell counting and viability analysis.

Why does this matter?

Traditional methods like trypan blue exclusion lack the accuracy provided by the dye-based positive selection of nucleated cells. For challenging samples containing debris or mixed cell types, this may lead to uncertain counts and viability results.

The NC-203™ eliminates these uncertainties by cross-validating deep learning-based cell recognition with dyes specific for nucleated cells

With combined brightfield and fluorescence imaging technology, you can:

Trust your measurements of complex cell samples: The NC-203™ has enhanced differentiation between nucleated cells, non-nucleated cells, debris and non-cellular artifacts.Streamline your workflow and decrease your error rate.Avoid impacting your cell culture with trypan blue.

생리적 온도에서의 소프트 콘택트렌즈 기계적 테스트

Many soft materials are mechanically tested at room temperature (even though that’s not where they actually operate in the real world).

Temperature matters when materials are thin, highly compliant, and expected to deform predictably under load.

Contact lenses are a good example. They’re worn on a warm, hydrated eye, exposed to continuous eyelid pressure and blinking, yet their mechanical properties are often characterised under cooler, more convenient laboratory conditions.

A recent study published in Processes takes a closer look at what changes when standard tensile and compression tests are repeated at physiological temperature.

Two silicone hydrogel contact lens materials were tested under room temp & warm conditions, then carried forward into finite element models of on-eye deformation and refractive behaviour.

The mechanical changes were subtle, but consistent. Both materials softened at physiological temperature, and those shifts became more relevant once lens geometry and fit were introduced into the model.

MicroTester

The CellScale MicroTester, available in LT and G2 models, sets the standard for precision and adaptability in biomechanical testing. Designed with various attachments like platens and hooks, this system excels across diverse applications—from testing delicate filaments to hydrogel microspheres. It offers modes for compression, tension, bending, and more, featuring precision actuators that ensure resolution down to 0.1µm and force sensitivity as fine as 10nN. Enhanced with a high-resolution camera and a temperature-controlled media bath, the MicroTester ensures optimal conditions and detailed visual feedback for accurate and reliable testing of small samples.

Engineering Cartilage

A study from 2023 explored a promising new approach to cartilage regeneration by using a special matrix derived from pig spinal tissue (notochordal cell-derived matrix, or NCM) to help human cartilage cells grow into mini tissues called organoids. These organoids, made from both healthy and osteoarthritic (OA) human cartilage cells, were embedded in soft, gel-like materials to form larger, more complex cartilage-like structures. Importantly, the OA cells—taken from leftover knee replacement tissue—performed just as well as healthy cells in forming tissue with key cartilage components like collagen type II and proteoglycans. This finding is significant because OA tissue is more readily available and could be a valuable source for future regenerative therapies or lab-based disease models. Throughout the 28-day culture period, both OA- and healthy-cell organoids fused into a single, cartilage-like tissue without major differences in quality or composition. These results support the potential of using organoids for more effective and accessible cartilage repair strategies.

The MicroTester played a key role in this research by measuring the mechanical properties of the gel-embedded cartilage organoids, confirming that the tissues formed had appropriate strength and elasticity. These insights helped validate the engineered tissue’s suitability for load-bearing applications in future therapies.

Mechanical Testers

CellScale offers mechanical testers for precision-controlled tissue and material analysis.

UniVert: The UniVert is the most versatile and cost-effective mechanical tester for forces up to 1kN. Its small footprint and ease of use make it suitable for customized test setups, high-volume testing, or classroom teaching.

Biotester: The market leader for biaxial testing of biomaterials, the BioTester comes with 4 actuators, high-resolution imaging, a temperature-controlled media bath and 3 specimen mounting options. Available in 3 packages to suit a wide range of applications and budgets.

MicroTester: The MicroTester models are suitable for micro-sized specimens including hydrogels, micro-tissues, and micro-fibers. The MicroTester can achieve force resolution down to 10nN with valuable image feedback.

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How Strain Affects Collagen Breakdown and Repair

Researchers investigated how different tensile forces impact the breakdown of collagen with specific enzymes. They used samples from pig heart pericardium and mechanically strained the samples using the CellScale BioTester. This testing system allowed for controlled, biaxial strain of the samples in temperature-controlled PBS.

Their findings showed that one enzyme, cathepsin K, increased the mechanical degradation with strain whereas with another enzyme, degradation exhibited a more complex response to strain. Moreover, mass spectrometry analyses revealed distinct degradation byproducts based on the strain level.

This research introduces a new perspective in mechanobiology. It suggests mechanical forces can affect degradation products, which may play vital roles in tissue remodeling. This will have implications for understanding tissue repair and disease progression.

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Temporary in vivo circuits?

Bioresorbable devices for sensing, drug delivery, and other purposes have the potential to enhance treatments and provide monitoring. From a materials standpoint, even something as simple as replacing a convention electrical wire can be challenging.

Recently, a research team in Korea have published a paper describing their work with composite materials for this application. They worked with a mixture of beeswax, tungsten powder, and glycofurol to make a material they call “W-paste”. The resulting material had

- High conductivity

- High mechanical stability

- Can be screen printed

- Has isotropic electrical paths

- Is biocompatible

- Degrades in PBS after about 80 days.

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Tuning physico-chemical properties and directing cellular response

Two-photon bioprinting uses selective polymerization of solutions containing cells and materials to create 3D structures. These can be developed into living biological structures, but it can be difficult to recreate the spatial heterogeneity of native tissues.

A group of researchers in Australia have found that it is possible to control the stiffness of bioprinted silk fibroin constructs by modulating the intensity of the cross-linking laser. This method can create micrometer-level spatial control of the construct stiffness and degradation rate. In their study, human dermal fibroblasts achieved 95% viability at 21 days. The cells showed higher proliferation rates in less cross-linked hydrogels and were able to align and migrate to areas of increased stiffness in gradient hydrogels.

The researchers used the CellScale BioTester to measure the stiffness of the hydrogels.

Visit the BioTester Web Page

gentleMACS™ Octo Dissociator with Heaters

The gentleMACS™ Octo Dissociator with Heaters is a benchtop instrument for the fully automated and standardized tissue dissociation or homogenization of up to eight samples. Equipped with eight individual heating units and numerous optimized and ready-to-use gentleMACS Programs the gentleMACS Octo Dissociator with Heaters offers a fully automated workflow for tissue dissociation.

Applications
The gentleMACS Octo Dissociator with Heaters is equipped with several programs for fully automated tissue dissociation into single-cell suspensions, including:

- mouse or human tumor
- mouse or rat neonatal heart
- neural tissue
- mouse spleen, lung, lamina propria, epidermis, or liver
- mouse or rat skeletal muscle
- and more

V I E W M O R E

Cells & Hydrostatic Pressure

The MechanoCulture TR provides up to 500kPa of hydrostatic pressure to 9 specimens in individual wells. The transparent culture wells allow for visual confirmation of correct specimen loading and real-time imaging during the test if desired. The specimen chamber plate can be sterilized and the system is suitable for long-term cell culture in a laboratory incubator.

Key Features

- Hydrostatic compression stimulation for up to 9 culture wells
- Pressure-controlled loading up to 500kPa at 0.5Hz

- User-friendly interface software for specifying simple, cyclic, and intermittent stimulation protocols for upload to the device controller

Visit the MechanoCultrue TR Page

Healthy aging modulates heart tissue properties and function

Our bodies change with age and our heart tissues are no exception. With these changes come increased risk of diseases such as pulmonary hypertension. Studying the changes in structure and mechanical properties of the relevant tissues may help to understand the causes of these age-related diseases and hence aid in their prevention.

Marc Simon and other researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have undertaken this challenging research. Their strategy has been to correlate hemodynamic measurements with biaxial mechanical test data and quantitative histology. The team also study constitutive models derived from the experimental data.

Interestingly, their recent study found similarities between age-related tissue remodeling and pressure overload-induced remodeling.

The researchers used the CellScale BioTester with force-balanced suture attachments to measure the tissue properties at several stretch rations.

Read the full article HERE

An In Vitro knee meniscus study using microgravity and hydrostatic pressure

The causes of knee osteoarthritis and the higher prevalence in females are not understood.
Recently, researchers at the University of Alberta cultured knee meniscus constructs under microgravity, static normal gravity, and intermittent cyclic hydrostatic pressure conditions. The constructs we assayed via histology, immunofluorescence, GAG/DNA, RNA sequencing, and mechanical testing.
The study showed that microgravity induced osteoarthritis characteristics, while cyclic hydrostatic pressure promoted chondrogenesis. Their results also results showed male/female differences.
The researchers used the CellScale MechanoCulture TR for controlled cyclic hydrostatic pressurization of their materials.

Visit the MechanoCulture TR Web Page

Cell & Tissue Stimulation

CellScale makes a diverse line of MechanoCulture products

The MechanoCulture product group allows researchers to culture cells or tissues in a mechanically active environment. Configurations of these culture systems support single or parallel tests using a variety of flexible substrates and scaffolds. On-board controllers enable PC-independent execution of user-defined loading protocols.

All MechanoCulture systems can be operated in an incubator environment. All cell-contacting components are made from autoclavable materials.

Visit our website to learn more about the 7 different MechanoCulture models. If we don’t have what you need right now, contact us and we will build a system to meet your specifications.

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