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Mechanical Loading of Chondrocytes Embedded in 3D Constructs

In Vitro Methods for Assessment of Morphological and Metabolic Response to Compressive Strain
  • David A. Lee
  • Martin M. Knight
Protocol
Part of the Methods in Molecular Medicine™ book series (MIMM, volume 100)

Abstract

Mechanical loading of chondrocytes in 3D constructs has been used to investigate mechanotransduction and its potential for stimulating tissue-engineered cartilage repair. This chapter describes the preparation of 3D agarose or alginate constructs seeded with isolated chondrocytes and specific test rigs for applying gross compressive strain to individual constructs on a confocal microscope or for longer term compression of constructs cultured within an incubator. Experimental methods are described to quantify the level of cell deformation and the elaboration of extracellular matrix. The chapter thus provides an introduction to the experimental techniques used to examine chondrocyte mechanotransduction and downstream cell function.

Key Words

Agarose bioreactor cartilage cell deformation cell mechanics cell proliferation chondrocyte confocal microscopy extracellular matrix mechanical compression mechanotransduction proteoglycan synthesis sulphate incorporation thymidine incorporation 
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Copyright information

© Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ 2004

Authors and Affiliations

  • David A. Lee
    • 1
  • Martin M. Knight
    • 2
  1. 1.IRC in Biomedical Materials and Medical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, Queen Mary CollegeUniversity of LondonLondonUK
  2. 2.Department of Engineering, Queen Mary CollegeUniversity of LondonLondonUK

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