CENTER SERVICES

Imaging services

  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Computed Tomography
  • Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography
  • Positron Emission Tomography
  • Bioluminescence
  • Fluorescence
  • Cryofluorescence Imaging
  • X-ray and Scintigraphy
  • Clinical Imaging Systems for Research

Cell-based services

  • Universal lentiviral vector luciferase reporter backbone for tracking expression of nearly any miRNA
    • Currently available:
      • Lv-miR-control vector (lacks a miRNA target sequence)
      • Lv-Luc-miR-145-5p
      • Lv-Luc-miR-27b-5p
      • Lv-Luc-miR-27b-3p
      • NEW! Lv-Luc-miR-21-3p (validation in process)
  • Next generation RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq)
  • Available Reporter Vectors (validated)
    • NEW! Human Aggrecan promoter reporter (Lentiviral vector, dTomato)
    • Human Aggrecan promoter reporter (Lentiviral vector, secreted Gaussia Luciferase)
    • Human COL10A1 promoter reporter (Lentiviral vector, secreted Gaussia Luciferase)
    • Human COL2A1 promoter reporter (Lentiviral vector, secreted Gaussia Luciferase)
    • Human Col2 promoter reporter (Plasmid, Firefly Luciferase)
    • Human Osteocalcin promoter reporter (Lentiviral vector, Firefly Luciferase)
    • NEW! Human Osteocalcin promoter reporter (Lentiviral vector, dTomato)
    • Human Runx2 promoter reporter (Lentiviral vector, secreted Gaussia Luciferase)
    • Human Sox9 promoter reporter (Lentiviral vector, Firefly Luciferase)
    • Human Sox9 promoter reporter (Lentiviral vector, secreted Gaussia Luciferase)
    • Human Sox9 promoter reporter short sequence (Plasmid, Firefly Luciferase)
    • Human Sox9 promoter reporter full sequence (Plasmid, Firefly Luciferase)
    • Mouse Sox9 promoter reporter full sequence (Plasmid, Firefly Luciferase)
    • Human Sox9 promoter reporter (Lentiviral vector, eGFP)
  • Available lentiviral vectors for cell tracking:
    • pLV-Puromicin-dTomato-Luciferase
    • pLV-Puromicin-CyPet
    • pLV-Puromicin-YPet
    • pLV-Puromicin-Luciferase
    • pLV-Blasticidin-mCherry-Luciferase
    • pLV-Neomicin-dTomato
    • pLV-Puromicin-eGFP
    • NEW! pLV-Secreted Nano-Luciferase
    • NEW! pLV-Puromicin-eGFP-Luciferase
  • Generation of differentiation markers / promoter-specific viral vectors with traceable gene reporters.
  • Efficient viral transduction of primary cells and cell lines.
  • Large-scale generation of hybrid structures for in vitro chondrogenesis.
  • Bioluminescence Imaging (BLI) of created hybrid structures to assess cell differentiation in real time.
  • Structural analysis of engineered tissue sections (Immunohistochemistry) with a panel of Proteoglycan (PG)- and Glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-specific antibodies.
  • Immunological assessment of conditioned medium (ELISA) with the same panel of specific antibodies, as an indirect analysis of ECM remodeling.
  • Biochemical determination of the GAG composition of generated cartilage ECM.

Biochemical environment services

  • Transport modeling and parameter estimation for glucose consumption in aggregate culture
  • NEW! Biomolecular rate cut-off determination for success/failure in aggregate culture.
  • Donor-specific assessment of metabolism of client-MSC aggregates (glucose, lactate)
  • Donor-specific assessment of metabolism of client-MSC aggregates under varying exogenous factors (to be specified by clients)
  • NEW! LC/QQQ Amino acid analysis of culture samples
  • NEW! Amino acid pathway flux balance analysis
  • Microbioreactor and splitter for feeding for use in MSC chondrogenesis
    • 16-well conical bottom perfusion microreactor (10 microliter wells)
    • 16-well flat-bottom perfusion microreactor (9 microliter wells)
    • 100-well conical bottom perfusion microreactor (10 microliter wells)
    • 4-way microsplitter
  • Quantitative evaluation of metabolism and mass transport in client-TE constructs
  • NEW! Fluid mixing analysis in bioreactors
  • NEW! USB-based actuator; hardware and software
  • NEW! Perfusion bioreactor for culture and mechanical stimulation (flexion) of tissues

Biomechanics services

  • NEW! Coefficient of friction measurements for native and engineered cartilage
  • NEW! High frequency ultrasound interrogation (50 MHz) of native and engineered tissue to visualize small features
  • Surface and internal damage evaluation in tissue engineered and native cartilage using high frequency (30 MHz) ultrasound
  • Acoustic anisotropy of cartilage
  • Biphasic mechanical properties of native and engineered cartilage using indentation
  • Friction and potential damage of native and engineered cartilage under normal load and sliding shear
  • Depth dependent shear properties of tissues and tissue engineered constructs
  • Quasi-static and dynamic properties of tissues in compression or tension