Development of a uniaxial mechanical loading device to evaluate osteogenic differentiation of stem cells seeded on a scaffold material

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of the uniaxial mechanical strain on the proliferation and differentiation of mouse mesenchymal stem D1 cells seeded into the octacalcium phosphate (OCP)/Gelatin (Gel) composite in vitro. The mechanical stimulation with a uniaxial loading device was analyzed by finite element analysis in order to elucidate quantitatively the effect of the strain on D1 cells seeded into the OCP/Gel composite. The results suggest that osteoblastic differentiation of D1 cells is suppressed by overloading of the compressive strain, but promoted if suitable mechanical stress is provided.