PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION

2023

Effect of Uniaxial Compression Frequency on Osteogenic Cell Responses in Dynamic 3D Cultures

Kontogianni G, Loukelis K, et al.

Bioengineering

University of Crete, University of Pisa, Newcastle University, Dublin City University, Politecnico di Torino, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH - IESL)

Greece, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom

RESEARCH SUMMARY

This study explored the influence of uniaxial cyclic compression frequency on the osteogenic differentiation of pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells cultured within 3D-printed PLLA/PCL/PHBV (90/5/5 wt.%) scaffolds. Constructs were dynamically compressed for 40 min per day at 8 % strain (400 µm displacement) using three frequencies (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 Hz) over 21 days. Finite-element simulations confirmed that the designed scaffolds provided homogeneous strain transmission. Compared with static cultures, dynamic compression significantly enhanced early osteogenic activity, with ALP activity, collagen synthesis, and calcium deposition all elevated under stimulation—especially at 0.5 Hz. The findings demonstrate that physiologically relevant cyclic compression promotes bone-forming cell maturation and matrix mineralization within polymeric scaffolds.

Mechanical stimulation was applied using a CellScale MCTX bioreactor (MechanoCulture TX, Waterloo, ON, Canada) delivering uniaxial cyclic compression under controlled strain (8 %, 400 µm displacement). The bioreactor operated at 0.5–1.5 Hz, applying 40 min of daily compression to pre-osteoblastic cell-laden scaffolds for 21 days. The MCTX’s precision control of frequency and displacement ensured uniform mechanical loading across replicates. Its integrated software maintained real-time feedback to monitor strain cycles, enabling reproducible dynamic cultures that correlated stimulation frequency with osteogenic marker expression.

AUTHORS

Georgia-Ioanna Kontogianni; Konstantinos Loukelis; Amedeo Franco Bonatti; Elisa Batoni; Carmelo De Maria; Raasti Naseem; Kenneth Dalgarno; Giovanni Vozzi; David B. MacManus; Subrata Mondal; Nicholas Dunne; Chiara Vitale-Brovarone; Maria Chatzinikolaidou.

PUBLICATION DETAILS

JOURNAL

Bioengineering

YEAR

2023

INSTITUTIONS

University of Crete, University of Pisa, Newcastle University, Dublin City University, Politecnico di Torino, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH - IESL)

COUNTRIES

Greece, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom

INSTRUMENT USED

MechanoCulture TX

TESTING METHODS

Compression TestingFatigue Testing

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS

3D Bioprinting & Bioink Materials TestingBone Tissue Engineering & MechanicsMechanotransductionPolymers and Elastomers TestingScaffold Mechanical Testing

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