Mechanical Characterization
TA Instruments Discovery DMA 850: Dynamic Mechanical Analysis of Orthopedic Biomaterials
The Discovery DMA 850 is one of the most advanced Dynamic Mechanical Analyzers available for materials research and represents a cornerstone of the OBM Laboratory's material characterization capabilities. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) is considered the gold standard for measuring the viscoelastic behavior of materials, the combination of elastic (energy-storing) and viscous (energy-dissipating) properties that governs how biological tissues and biomaterials respond under physiological loading.
Unlike conventional mechanical testing systems that measure only ultimate strength or stiffness, the DMA reveals how materials behave under cyclic loading, varying temperatures, and different loading frequencies, providing a far more comprehensive understanding of their functional performance. Within the OBM Laboratory, the DMA 850 plays a critical role in characterizing native musculoskeletal tissues, engineered meniscus constructs, hydrogels, bioinks, orthopedic polymers, and 3D-printed biomaterials.
Whether evaluating the long-term performance of diabetic orthotic insoles, optimizing the viscoelastic properties of bioinks for meniscus regeneration, or studying orthopedic implant materials, DMA provides insights that cannot be obtained through traditional static mechanical testing.
Key capabilities include:
- Force measurements ranging from 0.1 mN to 18 N
- Nanometer-scale displacement resolution
- A broad frequency range, from extremely soft hydrogels to rigid engineering polymers and composites
- A high-performance furnace and specialized fixtures for testing over an exceptionally wide temperature range
- Analysis of fatigue, creep, stress relaxation, and time-dependent mechanical responses
As a research-grade instrument with a list value exceeding $150,000, acquired through substantial institutional investment and vendor support, the Discovery DMA 850 significantly expands the laboratory's capabilities in orthopedic biomaterials research. By enabling high-precision viscoelastic characterization, it bridges the gap between engineering material science and clinical orthopedics, supporting the development of next-generation implants, regenerative biomaterials, and patient-specific orthopedic devices designed to restore function while closely mimicking the mechanical behavior of native human tissues.
Cell Culture and Tissue Engineering
Thermo Scientific 1500 Series A2 Biological Safety Cabinet: Sterile Cell Culture and Biomaterials Preparation
The Biological Safety Cabinet serves as the foundation of all tissue engineering research within the OBM Laboratory. This Class II Type A2 biosafety cabinet provides a sterile, HEPA-filtered environment for handling stem cells, primary cells, biomaterials, and biological specimens while protecting both researchers and cell cultures from contamination. All hydrogel preparation, bioink formulation, cell seeding, and aseptic tissue engineering procedures are performed within this controlled workspace to ensure reproducible, contamination-free experiments.
Thermo Scientific Vios iDx CO2 Incubator: Controlled Environment for Cell Growth
Successful tissue engineering begins with healthy cells. Our Vios iDx CO2 incubator provides precise control of temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration, recreating physiological conditions that allow stem cells and engineered tissues to proliferate and mature. The system supports long-term culture of mesenchymal stem cells, fibrocartilage constructs, and bioprinted meniscus tissues while maintaining a stable environment essential for reproducible regenerative medicine research.
Thermo Scientific TSX Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer (-80°C): Long-Term Biological Sample Preservation
Many biological materials lose their viability or structural integrity if not stored under ultra-low temperatures. Our TSX Ultra-Low Freezer preserves stem cells prior to expansion, engineered tissues, biological specimens, patient-derived samples, and harvested meniscus tissue used for biomechanical and biochemical characterization. Maintaining samples at -80°C minimizes biological degradation and allows long-term storage while preserving their research value for future experiments.
Fisherbrand Isotemp Laboratory Refrigerator: Reagents, Media, and Biomaterial Storage
Reliable storage of cell culture media, growth factors, antibodies, hydrogels, and temperature-sensitive reagents is critical for tissue engineering and biomaterials research. Our laboratory refrigerator provides controlled cold storage for daily research activities while preserving the stability and performance of biological reagents used throughout the laboratory.
Thermo Scientific X4TR Refrigerated Centrifuge: Cell Isolation and Sample Processing
The refrigerated centrifuge is an essential component of our cell culture workflow. It enables efficient isolation of stem cells, removal of cryoprotectants following thawing, concentration of cell suspensions, and preparation of biological samples for downstream tissue engineering experiments. Refrigerated operation minimizes thermal stress during processing, preserving cell viability and improving experimental consistency.
Invitrogen Countess 3 Automated Cell Counter: Rapid Cell Quantification and Viability Assessment
Accurate cell concentration and viability are fundamental to reproducible tissue engineering. The Countess 3 Automated Cell Counter provides rapid, objective measurements of cell number, viability, and culture quality prior to bioprinting, scaffold seeding, and biological assays. Automated analysis reduces operator variability while ensuring precise preparation of cell-laden bioinks and engineered tissue constructs.
Thermo Scientific Digital Vortex Mixer: Homogeneous Biomaterial Preparation
Uniform mixing is critical when preparing hydrogels, bioinks, cell suspensions, and biochemical reagents. The digital vortex mixer ensures consistent dispersion of polymers, nanoparticles, crosslinkers, and biological components while minimizing variability between experiments, supporting reproducible biomaterial fabrication and tissue engineering workflows.
Thermo Scientific Cimarec+ Hot Plate Stirrer: Hydrogel and Biomaterial Synthesis
Many biomaterials require controlled heating and continuous mixing during preparation. The Cimarec+ Hot Plate Stirrer is used for dissolving polymers, preparing hydrogel formulations, synthesizing bioinks, and fabricating biomaterial systems for orthopedic applications. Precise temperature and stirring control ensure consistent material properties prior to cell encapsulation and bioprinting.
Advanced Additive Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing is a core capability of the OBM Laboratory, enabling the rapid translation of engineering concepts into functional orthopedic devices, anatomical models, biomechanical test specimens, and patient-specific surgical solutions. Our laboratory maintains a diverse fleet of industrial and research-grade additive manufacturing systems spanning stereolithography (SLA), fused deposition modeling (FDM), and hybrid digital fabrication, allowing researchers to select the most appropriate manufacturing technology based on the required resolution, material properties, mechanical performance, and application.
Our additive manufacturing infrastructure supports every stage of the design cycle, from rapid concept development and prototype iteration to functional mechanical testing, surgical simulation, and translational orthopedic research.
Large-Format Stereolithography (SLA) Manufacturing: Formlabs Form 4L, Form 2, Form Wash, and Form Cure L
The OBM Laboratory's stereolithography platform is centered around the Formlabs Form 4L, a large-format professional SLA printer capable of producing exceptionally accurate, high-resolution components with smooth surface finishes that are difficult to achieve using conventional manufacturing methods. Combined with the Form Cure L, Form Wash, and Form 2 systems, the laboratory operates a complete resin manufacturing workflow from printing through automated washing, post-curing, and final part preparation.
These systems are routinely used to fabricate:
- Patient-specific anatomical models
- Realistic orthopedic surgical simulators
- Custom molds for biomaterials and hydrogels
- Experimental fixtures and orthopedic prototypes
- Transparent visualization models and high-precision research components
The availability of engineering resins, including Tough 2000 and optical-grade clear materials, allows the laboratory to produce parts with mechanical properties tailored to demanding orthopedic research applications.
High-Speed Fused Deposition Manufacturing (FDM): Three FLSUN S1 Printers
The laboratory operates three FLSUN S1 high-speed delta FDM printers, providing exceptional throughput for large-scale research fabrication. These systems enable rapid production of biomechanical test fixtures, orthopedic bone models, customized experimental apparatus, structural prototypes, and functional engineering components while significantly reducing development time from concept to physical testing.
The ability to manufacture multiple parts simultaneously allows the laboratory to rapidly iterate implant designs, fabricate customized fracture models, produce patient-specific orthopedic devices, and generate statistically meaningful sample sizes for mechanical characterization studies.
Hybrid Digital Manufacturing: Bambu Lab H2C and Bambu Lab X2D
Complementing the laboratory's high-throughput manufacturing capabilities are two next-generation Bambu Lab systems that provide precision FDM printing together with advanced digital fabrication capabilities. The Bambu Lab H2C integrates high-quality thermoplastic printing with laser engraving and laser cutting, enabling fabrication beyond traditional additive manufacturing. This hybrid platform supports rapid production of acrylic templates, silicone mold components, custom laboratory fixtures, electronics enclosures, engraved surgical guides, and experimental tooling from a single integrated system.
The Bambu Lab X2D expands the laboratory's capability for producing high-accuracy engineering prototypes and functional components used throughout our biomechanics and biomaterials research programs. Together, these systems create a highly flexible digital manufacturing ecosystem capable of supporting orthopedic research, educational outreach, laboratory instrumentation, and custom experimental development.
Bioprinting and Biofabrication
CELLINK BIO X
While conventional 3D printers manufacture plastics and engineering materials, the CELLINK BIO X enables the fabrication of living tissues. The BIO X is a research-grade extrusion bioprinter specifically designed for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications. Instead of printing polymers, the system precisely deposits cell-laden bioinks, hydrogels, and biomaterials to create biologically functional three-dimensional constructs that closely mimic native tissue architecture.
Within the OBM Laboratory, the BIO X serves as the foundation of our meniscus tissue engineering program, where it is used to fabricate biomimetic fibrocartilage constructs using stem cells, hydrogel-based bioinks, and advanced biomaterials. By combining patient-specific design with precise spatial placement of cells and extracellular matrix components, the system allows researchers to investigate tissue regeneration, scaffold architecture, mechanical conditioning, and the development of next-generation living orthopedic implants.
The integration of the CELLINK BIO X with our extensive cell culture, biomaterials characterization, and mechanical testing infrastructure creates a complete research pipeline, from bioink formulation and stem cell expansion to tissue fabrication, maturation, and biomechanical evaluation. This capability positions the OBM Laboratory at the intersection of orthopedic biomechanics, regenerative medicine, and advanced biomanufacturing, enabling research that extends beyond engineered devices toward the creation of living replacement tissues.