Bioreactor suite to study mechanical loading in skeletal tissues & biomaterials

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Every day, our bones and joints are subjected to continual mechanical load in the form of compression, tension and/or hydrostatic loading. These loads are important signals that regulate the function of cells within these tissues. Our collaborative transdisciplinary team of researchers includes experts in intervertebral disc (Séguin), cartilage (Beier), synovium (Appleton), tendon and bone biology (Grol), partnered with experts in biomaterials (Flynn) and cell surface receptor biology (Ramachandran). This team has an established track record of productive collaboration and reflects our shared belief in the importance of diversity in research, including individuals at various career stages, from under-represented groups, with a female lead and gender balance in traditionally male-dominated disciplines. Together, NSERC-funded research being led by this team is investigating how mechanical signals regulate the biology of skeletal tissues in the context of development, tissue homeostasis, and tissue regeneration. A critical gap in our current research is the ability to model the complex mechanical environment of cells within 3D tissues or biomaterials in order to study the underlying cellular processes and/or use these signals to stimulate cells for tissue regeneration. To address this essential need, the current application seeks funding to support the purchase of a suite of bioreactors - equipment that will enable us to deliver precise mechanical loads to 3D tissues or biomaterials over time in the laboratory setting. The integrated suite of equipment will allow for experiments that simultaneously load multiple tissues (either in parallel or different loading regimens) designed to simulate the hydrostatic pressure (MCTR), uniaxial compression (MCTX), or uniaxial tension (MCJ1 and MCFX) loading that skeletal tissues experience in the body. The requested systems have unique features, including a design for independent mechanical loading of specimens within multiple, separate wells. This feature allows high-throughput experiments, accommodating tissues of different sizes/shapes. The separate well systems allow us to modulate key cellular effectors during loading (e.g. using drugs or small molecules) or measure the factors secreted by tissues during load that may signal to adjacent cells/tissues. Lastly, these systems can measure a tissue's mechanical properties throughout the experiment, enabling us to functionally measure, in real time, the effects of loading on tissue remodeling or adaptation that is currently not possible. The requested equipment will create a unique resource to support HQP training at Western. The focus on tissue mechanics in our basic biology studies supports collaboration and gives trainees the opportunity to develop and lead transdisciplinary research. Furthermore, our collaboration with CellScale in equipment design and application allows trainees important insights into industry and product development.