Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Bioreactor mimicking knee-joint movement for the regeneration of tissue-engineered cartilage

  • Published:
Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Efforts to minimize the sacrifice of laboratory animals have become a recent worldwide trend. This trend has triggered a number of studies toward developing effective methods to replace the animal experiments. In this study, we developed a biomimetic bioreactor system that simulates the movements of the human knee joint. The system consists of a knee-joint drive and a unit capable of culturing cells at the joint surface. The knee-joint drive is designed to apply dynamic stimulation similar to the real bending motion of the knee joint. We employed a commercial incubator for comparative evaluation and validation of our laboratory-made cell-culture unit mounted in a bioreactor. The results revealed that the ability of the proposed system in culturing cells was similar to that of the commercial incubator. The cell culture was evaluated by dividing the knee joint into zones according to the size of the stimulus. The results confirmed that the cell assessment stimulated by the knee-joint movement was two times higher than that having no stimulation. Overall, the study helped establish that the cell characteristics is more effective when an appropriate external stimulus is applied according to the target tissue. The study is also expected to form the basis for implementing an ex-vivo environment that can potentially replace animal and cadaver experiments in the future. In the future, follow-up studies will be conducted on the in-vivo environment and the characteristics of each organ and tissue for effective tissue regeneration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Z. Chunqiu, Z. Xizheng, W. Han, H. Daqing and G. Jing, Direct compression as an appropriately mechanical environment in bone tissue reconstruction in vitro, Med. Hypotheses, 67(6) (2006) 1414–1418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. P. Reher, N. I. Elbeshir, W. Harvey, S. Meghji and M. Harris, The stimulation of bone formation in vitro by therapeutic ultrasound, Ultrasound Med. Biol., 23(8) (1997) 1251–1258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. G. Vunjak-Novakovic, L. Meinel, G. Altman and D. Kaplan, Bioreactor cultivation of osteochondral grafts, Orthod Craniofac Res, 8(3) Aug (2005) 209–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Z. Y. Zhang et al., A biaxial rotating bioreactor for the culture of fetal mesenchymal stem cells for bone tissue engineering, Biomaterials, 30(14) May (2009) 2694–2704.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. J. P. Vacanti and R. Langer, Tissue engineering: the design and fabrication of living replacement devices for surgical reconstruction and transplantation, Lancet, 354(1) Jul. (1999) SI32–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. G. Jin, G. H. Yang and G. Kim, Tissue engineering bioreactor systems for applying physical and electrical stimulations to cells, J. Biomed. Mater. Res. B Appl. Biomater, 103(4) May (2015) 935–948.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. H.-J. P. N.-K. Lee and K.-M. Lim, Reconstructed human skin and cornea models as alternative methods to animal tests, Journal of Alternatives to Animal Experiments, 8 (2014) 29–36.

    Google Scholar 

  8. G. Vunjak-Novakovic, K. O. Lui, N. Tandon and K. R. Chien, Bioengineering heart muscle: A paradigm for regenerative medicine, Annu. Rev. Biomed. Eng., 13 (2011) 245–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. H. T. Au, I. Cheng, M. F. Chowdhury and M. Radisic, Interactive effects of surface topography and pulsatile electrical field stimulation on orientation and elongation of fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes, Biomaterials, 28(29) Oct. (2007) 4277–4293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. L. M. G. Vunjak-Novakovic, G. Altman and D. Kaplan, Bioreactor cultivationof osteochondral grafts, Orthidintics & Craniofacial Res., 8(3) (2005) 209–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. D. Wendt, A. Marsano, M. Jakob, M. Heberer and I. Martin, Oscillating perfusion of cell suspensions through three-dimensional scaffolds enhances cell seeding efficiency and uniformity (in English), Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 84(2) (2003) 205–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. D. W. S. Scaglione, S. Miggino, A. Papadimitropoulos, M. Fato, R. Quarto and I. Martin, Effects of fluid flow and calcium phosphate coating on human bone marrow stromal cells cultured in a defined 2D model system, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 86 (2007) 411–419.

    Google Scholar 

  13. M. C. Qi, J. Hu, S. J. Zou, H. Q. Chen, H. X. Zhou and L. C. Han, Mechanical strain induces osteogenic differentiation: Cbfa1 and Ets-1 expression in stretched rat mesenchymal stem cells (in English), International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 37(5) May (2008) 453–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. D. Kaspar, W. Seidl, C. Neidlinger-Wilke, A. Beck, L. Claes and A. Ignatius, Proliferation of human-derived osteoblast-like cells depends on the cycle number and frequency of uniaxial strain (in English), Journal of Biomechanics, 35(7) Jul. (2002) 873–880.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. C. Y. C. Huang, K. L. Hagar, L. E. Frost, Y. B. Sun and H. S. Cheung, Effects of cyclic compressive loading on chondrogenesis of rabbit bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (in English), Stem Cells, 22(3) (2004) 313–323.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. O. Demarteau et al., Dynamic compression of cartilage constructs engineered from expanded human articular chondrocytes (in English), Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 310(2), Oct. 17 (2003) 580–588.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. P. F. Davies and S. C. Tripathi, Mechanical stress mechanisms and the cell. An endothelial paradigm, Circ. Res., 72(2) Feb. (1993) 239–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. P. Angele et al., Cyclic hydrostatic pressure enhances the chondrogenic phenotype of human mesenchymal progenitor cells differentiated in vitro (in English), Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 21(3) May (2003) 451–457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. K. Shahin and P. M. Doran, Tissue engineering of cartilage using a mechanobioreactor exerting simultaneous mechanical shear and compression to simulate the rolling action of articular joints (in English), Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 109(4) Apr. (2012) 1060–1073.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. G. E. Nugent-Derfus et al., Continuous passive motion applied to whole joints stimulates chondrocyte biosynthesis of PRG4, Osteoarthritis Cartilage, 15(5) May (2007) 566–574.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Y. S. Cho, B. S. Kim, H. K. You and Y. S. Cho, A novel technique for scaffold fabrication: SLUP (salt leaching using powder) (in English), Current Applied Physics, 14(3) Mar. (2014) 371–377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. B. M. Tymrak, M. Kreiger and J. M. Pearce, Mechanical properties of components fabricated with open-source 3-D printers under realistic environmental conditions (in English), Materials & Design, 58 (2014) 242–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. D. K. M. I. D. Johnston, C. K. L. Tan and M. C. Tracey, Mechanical characterization of bulk Sylgard 184 for microfluidics and microengineering, Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 24 (2014) 7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. J. Yang et al., Fabrication and surface modification of macroporous poly(L-lactic acid) and poly(L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (70/30) cell scaffolds for human skin fibroblast cell culture (in English), Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, 62(3) (2002) 438–446.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. J. H. P. I. H. Lee, S.-J. Lee, D.-W. Cho and S. S. Kan, Effects of mechanical stimulation for MC3T3-E1 cells using bioreactor, The Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers, 11 (2008) 1411–1414.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors equally contributed to this work as first author.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Wonkwang University, Iksandea-ro, Iksan, Jeonbuk, 54538, Korea

    Hun-Jin Jeong, Nae-Un Kang, Young-Sam Cho & Seung-Jae Lee

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Wonkwang University, Iksandea-ro, Iksan, Jeonbuk, 54538, Korea

    So-Jung Gwak

  3. Department of Orthopedics, Daejeon St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic University of Korea, 64, Daeheung-ro, Jung-gi, Daejeon, 34943, Korea

    Myoung Wha Hong & Young Yul Kim

  4. Department of Mechanical Design Engineering, Wonkwang University, Iksandea-ro, Iksan, Jeonbuk, 54538, Korea

    Young-Sam Cho & Seung-Jae Lee

Authors
  1. Hun-Jin Jeong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. So-Jung Gwak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nae-Un Kang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Myoung Wha Hong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Young Yul Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Young-Sam Cho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Seung-Jae Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Young-Sam Cho or Seung-Jae Lee.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Young Hun Jeong

Hun-Jin Jeong received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Wonkwang University in 2015 and 2017, respectively. His research interests include 3D printing technology and its application to tissue engineering such as bone, cartilage regeneration, and fabricated scaffold.

So-Jung Gwak received her Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering from Hanyang University in 2008. She is currently a Professor in Department of Chemical Engineering at Wonkwang University. The focus of her project is the development of drug delivery system and tissue engineering.

Young-Sam Cho received his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Korea advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in 2004. He is currently a Professor in Department of Mechanical Design Engineering at Wonkwang University. His research interests include finite element analysis and its application to tissue engineering.

Seung-Jae Lee received his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in 2007. He is currently a Professor in Department of Mechanical Design Engineering at Wonkwang University. His research interests are on advanced manufacturing system and biomedical application.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jeong, HJ., Gwak, SJ., Kang, NU. et al. Bioreactor mimicking knee-joint movement for the regeneration of tissue-engineered cartilage. J Mech Sci Technol 33, 1841–1850 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0336-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0336-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation