Abstract
Mechanical stimulation is an effective method to increase extracellular matrix synthesis and to improve the mechanical properties of tissue-engineered cartilage constructs. In this chapter, we describe valuable methods of imposing direct mechanical stimuli (compression or shear) to tissue-engineered cartilage constructs as well as some common analytical methods used to quantify the effects of mechanical stimuli after short-term or long-term loading.
Keywords:
Cartilage; Chondrocytes; Collagen; Mechanical stimulation; Mechanotransduction; Proteoglycans; Tissue engineering.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Biomechanical Phenomena
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Bioreactors*
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Cartilage, Articular / cytology*
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Cartilage, Articular / metabolism
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Cartilage, Articular / surgery
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Cattle
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Cell Culture Techniques
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Cells, Cultured
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Chondrocytes / metabolism
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Chondrocytes / physiology*
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Chondrocytes / transplantation
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Chondrogenesis*
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Equipment Design
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Hydrogels
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Mechanotransduction, Cellular*
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Physical Stimulation
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Regenerative Medicine / instrumentation*
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Regenerative Medicine / methods
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Sepharose / chemistry
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Stress, Mechanical
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Time Factors
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Tissue Engineering / instrumentation*
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Tissue Engineering / methods
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Tissue Scaffolds