Online Monitoring of Tissue-Engineered Cartilage Development in a Dynamic Compression Bioreactor

摘要

This study successfully demonstrates the capability of the bioreactor for mechanical stimulation, real-time strength measurements, and ultrasonic evaluation. Increases in pericellular GAG were seen after seven days. However, no significant differences were measured in modulus, collagen content, or ultrasonic attenuation coefficient during this period. Such a short-term study with nondegrading hydrogels was not expected to produce large amounts of extracellular matrix. We expect the bioreactor to be particularly powerful when combined with degradable hydrogels in long-term studies. Continuing work focuses on the use of the video microscope for construct strain validation and live imaging of ECM development.