Cells on our bone scaffolds tested in simulated microgravity
Elisabeth, Aina, and Hanna from our lab travelled to Aarhus to investigate the differentiation of stem cells and bone cells on bone scaffold surface in the absence of gravity.
For this purpose, the cells were seeded within a 3D bone scaffolds coated with a release system for the different bio- molecules. The seeded cells were cultured under simulated microgravity that was generated using a random positioning machine as shown in the video above. Random positioning of the 3D cell culture samples is expected to mimic the physiological environment cells experience better than traditional cell culture methods with one dimensional 1xG loading.
This study was part of a research collaboration initiated by Professor Janne Reseland together with Professor Daniela Grimm from Aarhus University and Dr Alamelu Sundaresan from Texas Southern University that aims to shed light into the effect of 3D cell culture in simulated microgravity on the development and remodelling of bone tissue.
Visiting PhD student from Houston
While in Århus, our three researchers joined forces with Vivek Mann, a PhD student from Texas Southern University, who is spending the summer as visiting researcher at Professor Grimm's research group at Aarhus University. During his three months in Denmark, Vivek also came to visit our lab for two weeks in July.
- At the Department of Biomaterials, I met a very international and multidisciplinary group of researchers who all work at the different aspects of bone regeneration and bone implant materials. I learned about the development and biological testing of three-dimensional bone scaffolds, and how simulated microgravity can be used in creating a more suitable environment for testing 3D cell cultures than what can be achieved using standard cell culturing methods.
Vivek's research visit was funded by Mickey Leland International Study Scholarship.