Bioengineering Sciences Seminar - Mechanobiology and bone regeneration

Time: 14:00

Place: 07/3027 (Lanchester Building)

It has been well demonstrated that bone cells respond to mechanical forces in the body and in vitro. These responses can be harnessed to create mechanically stable tissues for regenerative medicine applications. Tissue engineering provides 3D matrices in which mechanobiological responses of cells can be measured in an environment more similar to in vivo. In our laboratory we use a range of bioreactors to mechanically stimulate bone cells and osteogenic precursors in 2D and 3D. These cells respond to mechanical stimulation with increases in matrix production, recently we have shown that even dermal fibroblasts from skin can be induced to osteogenesis by mechanical loading. Using these models we examine the mechanisms by which cells orientate their matrix based on intrinsic and external mechanical forces. We also examine mechanotransduction mechanisms; for example we have shown that cell membrane structures such as the glycocalyx a proteoglycan rich membrane coat and the primary cilia a single non-motile cilia that projects from each cell have roles in mechanosensing in vitro.

Speaker Information:

http://www.shef.ac.uk/materials/staff/greilly