Abstract:
This body of work undertakes both computational and experimental analyses to delve into the intricate field of bone and adult stem cell mechanobiology, a critical area for the advancement of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Human bone marrow and adipose-derived adult stem cells have shown immense promise as expandable and differentiable cell sources for generating functional engineered tissue. However, a comprehensive understanding of the optimal in vitro culture conditions, particularly concerning the appropriate material properties for withstanding in vivo loading, is still required. This paper emphasizes the combined mechanical and chemical stimuli necessary for culturing adult stem cells effectively. Previous biomechanical studies have demonstrated that mechanical loading can induce the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and mesenchymal tissue into various tissues, including bone, fibrous tissue, cartilage, and smooth muscle cells. More recently, human adipose-derived adult stem cells (hASCs) have shown similar promise for tissue engineering applications. This research explores the hypothesis that fluid shear stress acts as a primary stimulus for osteocytes in maintaining mature bone, and that tensile strain plays a crucial role in inducing the formation and repair of bone from mesenchymal tissue. A significant aspect of this study is its focus on determining the precise range of local stresses and strains required for stem cell-induced bone formation in vitro. Through a combination of sophisticated computational modeling and rigorous experimental analyses, the study aims to elucidate the mechanotransduction pathways that govern bone formation at the cellular level.
