Design and Improvement on a Stress Loading Device for Ligament Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Strain loading control is important for addressing the complex requirements of tissue engineering in bioreactor. The stress variation laws of the engineering tissue during growth were analyzed, and the strain loading rules were determined. A new mechanical stress loading device was developed, which was able to apply complex concurrent mechanical strains to three-dimensional scaffolds independently housed in reactor chambers. The AC servo control system was used to carry out tensional and rotational displacements. Well controlled mechanical stimulations could be applied to the developing ligament tissue, through the closed-loop control system for stresses, allowed different mechanical loading patterns on the scaffolds. We analyzed the strains of scaffolds fixed in circular and planar modes. The strain, motion, and position control methods were designed. This device is suitable for the bioreactor used in ligament tissue engineering.