The activities are focused on:

• morphological, structural and functional assessments of cell-biomaterial interactions, by using human and animal derived cell populations (mononuclear cells, mesenchymal cells from bone marrow or adipose tissue, cells of the musculoskeletal system and/or cell lines)
• studies on  2D/3D culture models, in static and dynamic conditions, under mechanical stimulation, with variable oxygen concentrations
• preparation of customized scaffolds functionalised with cells, through a 3D bioprinting platform, for applications in regenerative medicine of the musculoskeletal system.

Specific activities

Tissue regeneration

• isolation, growth and differentiation of human and animal derived cells (mononuclear cells, mesenchymal cells obtained from bone marrow or adipose tissue, chondrocytes, osteoblasts, synoviocytes, tenocytes, ligament cells) and/or cell lines
• phenotypic and functional characterization of single or co-cultured cell populations, maintained in 2D, 3D static conditions
• dynamic growth systems using bioreactors with variable oxygen concentrations
• 3D growth systems under computer-controlled mechanical stimulations. 

Evaluation and monitoring of the biosafety of products for cell therapy during in vitro manipulation

• evaluation of cell replication potential and cell proliferation kinetics
• genetic alteration studies during cellular aging and influence of oxidative stress 
• DNA damage analysis (microsatellite instability analysis, histone H2A phosphorylation) and activation of genes involved in DNA repair systems
• telomere length evaluation and quantification of the telomerase enzyme activity and expression.

Structural, morphological and functional evaluations of interactions between cells and biomaterials (scaffolds)

• analysis of the interactions between chondrocytes and osteoblasts, mononuclear or mesenchymal cells with different biomaterials, both in basal conditions and during chondrogenic or osteogenic differentiation
• realization of customized and cell functionalized scaffolds for regenerative medicine applications on the musculoskeletal system, through a bioprinting platform, which allows three-dimensional (3D) structure printing of natural and synthetic polymers or hydrogel polymerization also using radiological images acquired through a dual Energy TAC.