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Mechanical Testers

CellScale offers mechanical testers for precision-controlled tissue and material analysis.

UniVert: The UniVert is the most versatile and cost-effective mechanical tester for forces up to 1kN. Its small footprint and ease of use make it suitable for customized test setups, high-volume testing, or classroom teaching.

Biotester: The market leader for biaxial testing of biomaterials, the BioTester comes with 4 actuators, high-resolution imaging, a temperature-controlled media bath and 3 specimen mounting options. Available in 3 packages to suit a wide range of applications and budgets.

MicroTester: The MicroTester models are suitable for micro-sized specimens including hydrogels, micro-tissues, and micro-fibers. The MicroTester can achieve force resolution down to 10nN with valuable image feedback.
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How Strain Affects Collagen Breakdown and Repair

​Researchers investigated how different tensile forces impact the breakdown of collagen with specific enzymes. They used samples from pig heart pericardium and mechanically strained the samples using the CellScale BioTester. This testing system allowed for controlled, biaxial strain of the samples in temperature-controlled PBS.

Their findings showed that one enzyme, cathepsin K, increased the mechanical degradation with strain whereas with another enzyme, degradation exhibited a more complex response to strain. Moreover, mass spectrometry analyses revealed distinct degradation byproducts based on the strain level.

This research introduces a new perspective in mechanobiology. It suggests mechanical forces can affect degradation products, which may play vital roles in tissue remodeling. This will have implications for understanding tissue repair and disease progression.
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Temporary in vivo circuits?

Bioresorbable devices for sensing, drug delivery, and other purposes have the potential to enhance treatments and provide monitoring. From a materials standpoint, even something as simple as replacing a convention electrical wire can be challenging. 

Recently, a research team in Korea have published a paper describing their work with composite materials for this application. They worked with a mixture of beeswax, tungsten powder, and glycofurol to make a material they call “W-paste”. The resulting material had

- High conductivity
- High mechanical stability
- Can be screen printed
- Has isotropic electrical paths
- Is biocompatible
- Degrades in PBS after about 80 days.
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Tuning physico-chemical properties and directing cellular response

 
Two-photon bioprinting uses selective polymerization of solutions containing cells and materials to create 3D structures. These can be developed into living biological structures, but it can be difficult to recreate the spatial heterogeneity of native tissues.

A group of researchers in Australia have found that it is possible to control the stiffness of bioprinted silk fibroin constructs by modulating the intensity of the cross-linking laser. This method can create micrometer-level spatial control of the construct stiffness and degradation rate. In their study, human dermal fibroblasts achieved 95% viability at 21 days. The cells showed higher proliferation rates in less cross-linked hydrogels and were able to align and migrate to areas of increased stiffness in gradient hydrogels.

The researchers used the CellScale BioTester to measure the stiffness of the hydrogels.
Visit the BioTester Web Page

gentleMACS™ Octo Dissociator with Heaters

 

The gentleMACS™ Octo Dissociator with Heaters is a benchtop instrument for the fully automated and standardized tissue dissociation or homogenization of up to eight samples. Equipped with eight individual heating units and numerous optimized and ready-to-use gentleMACS Programs the gentleMACS Octo Dissociator with Heaters offers a fully automated workflow for tissue dissociation.

Applications
The gentleMACS Octo Dissociator with Heaters is equipped with several programs for fully automated tissue dissociation into single-cell suspensions, including:

- mouse or human tumor
- mouse or rat neonatal heart
- neural tissue
- mouse spleen, lung, lamina propria, epidermis, or liver
- mouse or rat skeletal muscle
- and more

V I E W   M O R E

Cells & Hydrostatic Pressure

 

The MechanoCulture TR provides up to 500kPa of hydrostatic pressure to 9 specimens in individual wells. The transparent culture wells allow for visual confirmation of correct specimen loading and real-time imaging during the test if desired. The specimen chamber plate can be sterilized and the system is suitable for long-term cell culture in a laboratory incubator.

Key Features

  •  - Hydrostatic compression stimulation for up to 9 culture wells
  •  - Pressure-controlled loading up to 500kPa at 0.5Hz
  - User-friendly interface software for specifying simple, cyclic, and intermittent stimulation protocols for upload to the device controller

Visit the MechanoCultrue TR Page

Healthy aging modulates heart tissue properties and function

 

Our bodies change with age and our heart tissues are no exception. With these changes come increased risk of diseases such as pulmonary hypertension. Studying the changes in structure and mechanical properties of the relevant tissues may help to understand the causes of these age-related diseases and hence aid in their prevention.

Marc Simon and other researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have undertaken this challenging research. Their strategy has been to correlate hemodynamic measurements with biaxial mechanical test data and quantitative histology. The team also study constitutive models derived from the experimental data.

Interestingly, their recent study found similarities between age-related tissue remodeling and pressure overload-induced remodeling.

The researchers used the CellScale BioTester with force-balanced suture attachments to measure the tissue properties at several stretch rations.

Read the full article HERE

An In Vitro knee meniscus study using microgravity and hydrostatic pressure

 

The causes of knee osteoarthritis and the higher prevalence in females are not understood.
Recently, researchers at the University of Alberta cultured knee meniscus constructs under microgravity, static normal gravity, and intermittent cyclic hydrostatic pressure conditions. The constructs we assayed via histology, immunofluorescence, GAG/DNA, RNA sequencing, and mechanical testing.
The study showed that microgravity induced osteoarthritis characteristics, while cyclic hydrostatic pressure promoted chondrogenesis. Their results also results showed male/female differences.
The researchers used the CellScale MechanoCulture TR for controlled cyclic hydrostatic pressurization of their materials.

Visit the MechanoCulture TR Web Page

Cell & Tissue Stimulation

CellScale makes a diverse line of MechanoCulture products

The MechanoCulture product group allows researchers to culture cells or tissues in a mechanically active environment. Configurations of these culture systems support single or parallel tests using a variety of flexible substrates and scaffolds. On-board controllers enable PC-independent execution of user-defined loading protocols.

All MechanoCulture systems can be operated in an incubator environment. All cell-contacting components are made from autoclavable materials.

Visit our website to learn more about the 7 different MechanoCulture models. If we don’t have what you need right now, contact us and we will build a system to meet your specifications.

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