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
- TA Instruments DMA 850 Standard Furnace for controlled-temperature mechanical and viscoelastic characterization
- Specialized 3-point bending and film/fiber fixtures for multiple specimen geometries and loading configurations
- 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.
Computational Capabilities
High-Performance Computational Workstations: Biomechanical Modeling and Simulation
The OBM Laboratory maintains a three-workstation computational infrastructure supporting computational biomechanics, finite element analysis, medical image-based modeling, CAD, experimental data analysis, and simulation-guided design of orthopedic devices and tissue-engineered scaffolds. These capabilities complement the laboratory's experimental biomechanics and material characterization infrastructure by enabling researchers to integrate physical testing with computational modeling.
The laboratory's computational resources range from engineering workstations for routine modeling and data processing to a high-performance Dell Precision 7875 workstation equipped with a 32-core/64-thread AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7975WX processor, 256 GB ECC memory, and NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada 20 GB GPU. The computational infrastructure supports studies of stress, strain, contact mechanics, and load transfer in musculoskeletal tissues and orthopedic systems, as well as simulation-guided development of implants, scaffolds, and patient-specific orthopedic solutions.
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.
LAXCO SLi6Pro Advanced Inverted Fluorescence Microscope: Live-Cell and Multiplex Fluorescence Imaging
The SLi6Pro significantly expands the OBM Laboratory's biological characterization capabilities by enabling advanced imaging of live cells, engineered tissues, and biomaterial-cell interactions. Unlike conventional microscopy used primarily for visual inspection, this research-grade inverted fluorescence platform enables researchers to investigate cellular morphology, distribution, migration, differentiation, and biological responses within tissue-engineered constructs.
The system incorporates LAXCO's SeBaLIT™ technology for real-time multiplex fluorescence observation with wavelength-specific illumination and advanced crosstalk reduction. It supports fluorescence imaging from ultraviolet through far-red wavelengths and compatibility with more than 110 fluorescent dyes, providing substantial flexibility for multichannel biological studies. The platform also supports time-lapse and video imaging, allowing dynamic cellular processes to be observed as they occur.
Within the OBM Laboratory, the SLi6Pro supports evaluation of stem-cell behavior and engineered musculoskeletal tissues, including fluorescence-based assessment of cell viability, morphology, extracellular matrix development, and tissue-specific markers. Its integration with our bioprinting and cell-culture infrastructure allows researchers to follow engineered constructs from fabrication through biological maturation and microscopic characterization.
The laboratory's SLi6Pro represents an approximately $15,700 instrumentation investment, further establishing an in-house imaging capability that complements our mechanical characterization and regenerative medicine research.
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.
Fisherbrand Isotemp GPD 10 Digital Water Bath: Precision Temperature Control for Biomaterials and Biological Workflows
The Fisherbrand Isotemp GPD 10 is a 10-liter digital laboratory water bath providing controlled and uniform thermal conditions for biological sample preparation, reagent conditioning, biomaterial processing, and temperature-sensitive experimental procedures. Its stainless-steel chamber and digital temperature-control system support reproducible workflows across tissue engineering, cell biology, and biomaterials research. The laboratory's unit is the 10 L GPD 10 model.
The system operates from ambient temperature to 100°C, with high temperature stability and uniformity, an 800 W heating system, programmable temperature presets, audible alarms, and low-fluid protection. These capabilities enable reliable incubation and temperature equilibration of media, reagents, hydrogels, and experimental samples while reducing temperature-related variability between experiments.
Within the OBM Laboratory, the water bath supports temperature-controlled preparation of biomaterials and biological reagents, warming of cell-culture media, controlled thermal conditioning of samples, and preparation steps associated with tissue engineering and biochemical characterization
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: Multimaterial Bioprinting and Hybrid Tissue Fabrication
The CELLINK BIO X is a research-grade multimaterial bioprinting platform designed for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. The system enables precise deposition of cell-laden bioinks, hydrogels, and other biomaterials to create biologically functional three-dimensional constructs that mimic key features of native tissue architecture. With the addition of a high-temperature thermoplastic printhead, the OBM Laboratory can also integrate structural polymers such as PCL with soft, cell-compatible materials, enabling fabrication of mechanically reinforced hybrid tissue constructs. The laboratory's PCL is specifically intended to provide reinforcing structures for load-bearing tissue constructs.
Within the OBM Laboratory, the BIO X serves as the foundation of our meniscus tissue engineering and biofabrication program. The platform allows researchers to combine stem cells, GelMA and other hydrogel-based bioinks, and thermoplastic reinforcement within controlled scaffold architectures. This multimaterial capability is particularly valuable for musculoskeletal tissues such as the meniscus, where biological functionality must be combined with sufficient structural and mechanical support. By controlling material composition, cellular distribution, scaffold architecture, and spatial reinforcement, researchers can investigate strategies for reproducing the heterogeneous structure and function of native fibrocartilage.
The BIO X is integrated with the laboratory's cell-culture, fluorescence imaging, biomaterials preparation, and mechanical characterization infrastructure to create a comprehensive research pipeline—from bioink formulation and stem-cell expansion through scaffold fabrication, biological maturation, cellular characterization, and biomechanical evaluation. This combination allows the OBM Laboratory to investigate not only how engineered tissues are fabricated, but also how cells respond within them and how the resulting constructs perform mechanically. Together, these capabilities position the laboratory at the intersection of orthopedic biomechanics, regenerative medicine, biomaterials, and advanced biomanufacturing, supporting the development of next-generation engineered and living tissue replacements.
CELLINK Thermoplastic Printhead: Hybrid Biofabrication of Reinforced Tissue Scaffolds
The Thermoplastic Printhead expands the CELLINK BIO X beyond hydrogel and cell-laden bioink deposition by enabling the controlled extrusion of structural thermoplastic polymers. Capable of heating materials to 250°C, the printhead supports biomaterials including PCL, PLA, and PLGA and allows rigid polymer frameworks to be integrated with softer hydrogels and cell-laden bioinks.
This capability is particularly important for orthopedic tissue engineering, where purely hydrogel-based constructs often cannot reproduce the mechanical reinforcement provided by native collagen architecture. The thermoplastic printhead enables fabrication of hybrid constructs in which a mechanically supportive polymer architecture can be combined with biologically active, cell-laden regions, bridging structural scaffold engineering and regenerative biofabrication.
Within the OBM Laboratory, this capability is especially relevant to meniscus and osteochondral tissue engineering. PCL can be used to fabricate reinforcing architectures while GelMA and other cell-compatible bioinks form the biological phase of the construct. The laboratory's CELLINK PCL is a biodegradable polyester with a melting point of approximately 60°C and is specifically intended to provide reinforcement to load bearing tissue constructs.