Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering

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Musculoskeletal tissues are produced, maintained and adapted by cells as a response to their biophysical environment in health and disease. Of the latter, degenerative diseases have become more prevalent with an increasing socioeconomic impact in our ever aging population. With increased longevity and a higher level of activity, current treatment methods with purely synthetic devices may be limited. In this section, the disciplines of engineering and biology are combined to expand our understanding of the biomechanical function of musculoskeletal tissues as well as their adaptive developmental and physiological nature. The current goals are to investigate the mechanisms of degenerative diseases and to develop regenerative treatment strategies as applied to three musculoskeletal tissues, i.e. bone, articular cartilage, and the intervertebral disc.

Functional adaptation of bone The main function of bone is to provide strength and stiffness to the musculoskeletal system. This function is most often compromised by trauma either primarily or secondary to diseases such as osteoporosis, which is a common condition of altered bone mass and micro-architecture often resulting in fractures. This relationship between bone micro-morphology and material characteristics, on the one hand, and bone strength on the other will be explored with refined imaging methods and micro finite element analysis. Our goal here will be to estimate bone strength clinically for assessment of fracture risk as well as to predict how this may be altered by possible treatments. We will also attempt to develop effective preventive measures against osteoporosis, by exploiting the natural effects of mechanical forces on bone mass. This will be explored through computational and in vivo experiments. (Info: Prof. Keita ito, Prof. Rik Huiskes, Dr. Bert van Rietbergen) Osteoarthritis and cartilage tissue engineering Degenerative joint disease is, next to osteoporosis, the most common musculoskeletal disease in the elderly. Its development is thought to be an effect of a disturbed balance between strength of articular cartilage, joint loading, and biological repair processes or lack thereof. Here, computational and in vivo models will be used to delineate the causal aspects and pathogenesis of the disease. Once damaged or degraded, the tissue often does not repair and surgical intervention is necessary. Tissue engineered cartilage is an attractive treatment method in such interventions. Although current methods of tissue engineering results in cartilage of appropriate composition, its material and hence functional properties are poor. This is most likely due to improper tissue conditioning during development resulting in improper tissue ultrastructure. We will attempt to use a multidisciplinary approach to overcome this. Computational models of adaptive tissue development will be created and used to optimize tissue conditions. This will of course require extensive in vitro experiment for model development, validation and final proof of concepts studies. (Info: Prof. Keita Ito, Dr. Rene van Donkelaar) Intervertebral disc Low back pain is one of the most common causes of disability for individuals of working age in developed countries. There are many causes of low back pain, and it is generally believed that degenerative disc disease is one of the most prevalent. The goal is to understand the basic mechanisms of disc degeneration and to develop long term functional treatments for this condition. The strategy focuses on: exploring deficient nutrition and mechanical loading as mechanotransduction mechanisms of cellular stimulated degeneration; how these degenerative changes may cause failure of disc function; and then using this understanding to explore methods to provide a basis for biological and tissue engineering approaches towards disc replacement and regeneration. As in the research pertaining to bone healing, the approach is to combine numerical simulations of continuum mechanics, mass transport, and biological process to that of in vivo and in vitro experiments. (Info: Prof. Keita Ito, Dr. Jacques Huyghe)