Design, fabrication and characterization of a pure uniaxial microloading system for biologic testing

Abstract

The field of mechanobiology is aimed at understanding the role the mechanical environment plays in directing cell and tissue development, function and disease. The empirical aspect of the field requires the development of accurate, reproducible and reliable loading platforms that can apply microprecision mechanical load. In this study we designed, fabricated and characterized a pure uniaxial loading platform capable of testing small synthetic and organic specimens along a horizontal axis. The major motivation for platform development was in stimulating bone cells seeded on elastomeric substrates and soft tissue loading. The biological uses required the development of culturing fixtures and environmental chamber. The device utilizes commercial microactuators, load cells and a rail/carriage block system. Following fabrication, acceptable performance was verified by suture tensile testing.

A Strain Feedback Compensation Method during Cell Tensile Experiments

“…To minimize the sliding effect of the specimen, Karimi et al [ 22 ] used a pair of coarse sandpaper glued to the lower and upper grippers. King et al [ 28 ] fabricated specific serrated friction grips for tensile tests. Although these methods reduce the sliding effect to some extent, the additional modification of clamps restricts their application.…”

Biaxial testing system for characterization of mechanical and rupture properties of small samples

“…Tytron 250 Microforce Testing System, ElectroForce Planar Biaxial TestBench, Cell Scale BioTester [3] , [4] , etc.) are often expensive ($50 K-$100 K + ) and several research laboratories have developed custom, less expensive, uniaxial or biaxial devices [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] , or open source [13] . Also, most systems may not be suitable for rupture tests of small samples due to a limited travel range, their gripping mechanism [14] , and/or load cell range.…”