MCTR-203

Overview

• Cyclic hydrostatic compression stimulation up to 0.5 Hz
• 9 individual wells
• Up to 500 kPa hydrostatic pressure stimulation
• Sterile sealed well plate design
• PC-independent incubator operation
• User-friendly interface software for specifying simple, cyclic, and intermittent stimulation protocols for upload to the device controller
• Autoclavable culture-contacting components

The MechanoCulture TR is a 9-well hydrostatic pressure stimulation bioreactor designed for mechanobiology and tissue engineering studies where pressure is the primary mechanical cue. It enables programmable hydrostatic loading that drives a compressive force in a sterile fluid environment, supporting parallel culture workflows for pressure-responsive cells, tissues, and biomaterials. The transparent culture wells allow for visual confirmation of correct specimen loading and real-time imaging during the test if desired.  The specimen chamber plate can be sterilized and the system is suitable for long-term cell culture in a laboratory incubator.

Specimens are submerged in media within a reusable sealed well plate.Each well is filled to the top, covered by a flexible membrane, and connected to the pressure chamber. When the top chamber is pressurized, the membrane deflects downward against the liquid surface, transmitting hydrostatic compression to the specimen through the culture media.

HydroStatic Compression

Hydrostatic compression is achieved by filling the culture well to the top with media. Pressurizing the top chamber results in the flexible membrane deflecting downwards to press against the surface of the liquid.

What's Included

• MCTR Bioreactor Frame, Pressure Regulator, & Power Supply
• 1 Reusable Sealed Well Plate (STANDARD plate)
• 10 Sealing Membranes + 3 Sealing O-Rings
• Lifetime License to Programming & Data Download Software

Video

MCTR Hydrostatic Demonstration

Specifications

Dimensions	14 x 14 x 9 cm
Weight	1 kg
Stimulation Mode	Hydrostatic Pressure Stimulation
Specimen dimensions	Up to 20 mm diameter/width
Maximum Pressure	500 kPa
Maximum Cycle Frequency	0.5 Hz
Autoclavable components	Yes
External compressed air required?	Yes

Accessories

Citations

Szojka, A., Li, D. X., Sopcak, M., Ma, Z., Kunze, M., Mulet-Sierra, A., Adeeb, S. M., Westover, L., Jomha, N. M., & Adesida, A. B.  (2021). Mechano-Hypoxia Conditioning of Engineered Human Meniscus.  Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology vol. 9 739438. 3 Sep. 2021, doi:10.3389/fbioe.2021.739438

Elena Cambria,Sally Heusser,Ariane C. Scheuren,Wai Kit Tam,Agnieszka A. Karol,Wolfgang Hitzl,Victor Y. Leung,Ralph Müller,Stephen J. Ferguson,Karin Wuertz-Kozak (2021). TRPV4 mediates cell damage induced by hyperphysiological compression and regulates COX2/PGE2 in intervertebral discs. JOR spine vol. 4,3 e1149. 6 May. 2021, doi:10.1002/jsp2.1149

C. Ludovica, G. Mattei, A. Ahluwalia (2020). A New Load-controlled Testing Method for Viscoelastic Characterisation Through Stress-rate Measurements. Materialia, Volume 9, 2020, 100552, ISSN 2589-1529

Cambria, E., Brunner, S., Heusser, S., Fisch, P., Hitzl, W., Ferguson, S.J. and Wuertz-Kozak, K. (2020). Cell-laden agarose-collagen composite hydrogels for mechanotransduction studies. Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology vol. 8 346. 21 Apr. 2020, doi:10.3389/fbioe.2020.00346

Sit, B., Feng, Z., Xanthis, I., Marhuenda, E., Zingaro, S., Shanahan, C., Jones, G., Yu, C.H. and Iskratsch, T. (2020). Matrix stiffness and blood pressure together regulate vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype switching and cofilin dependent podosome formation. bioRxiv 2020.12.27.424498; 

C. Ludovica (2019). Advanced In-vitro Models with Integrated Sensing for Real-time Monitoring of Electrical and Mechanical Properties of Cellular Constructs.

A. Sensini, L. Christofolini, A. Zucchelli, M. L. Focarete, C. Gualandi, A. De Mori, A. P. Kao, M. Roldo, G. Blunn, G. Tozzi (2019). Hierarchical Electrospun Tendon-ligament Bioinspired Scaffolds Induce Changes in Fibroblasts Morphology under Static and Dynamic Conditions. Journal of microscopy vol. 277,3 (2020): 160-169. doi:10.1111/jmi.12827

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