A High Frequency Vibrating System to Stimulate Cells in Bone Tissue Engineering

The aim of our work is to find a standard method to mechanically stimulate bone tissue progenitors cells with vibrations. We designed and realized a bioreactor in which we can change frequency, modality and duration of the stimuli. The system is composed by an eccentric motor, Voltage controlled, which can produce a displacement of 11 mm at frequencies between 1 Hz and 120 Hz, and by a plate connected to the motor allowing the contemporary vibration of three flasks or multiwells. We measured the acceleration with a 3D accelerometer to verify the accuracy and the repeatability of the stimuli imposed to the cells cultures. Consequently it has been possible to understand the relationship between these parameters and the effect on in vitro cells cultures. Particularly we focused on Saos-2 Human Osteoblasts to test the effects of high frequency vibrations on cells proliferation as a first pointer of the effects of the stimuli imposed by the bioreactor. We also realized the device for in vivo applications and we tested it on mice.