Orthopedic Bioengineering
Research Laboratory

Director: Professor Yi-Xian Qin


The research in this laboratory is focused on understanding the micro-nano level physical mechanisms involved in the control of tissue growth, healing, and homeostasis, especially hard tissue adaptation influenced by the physical environment, e.g. fluid flow in bone, . And how these mechanisms can be utilized in the treatment and prevention of diseases and injury, e.g., fracture healing, microgravity induced osteopenia, and osteoporosis. It is clear that bone senses and responds to biomechanical stimuli towards the achievement and maintenance of a structurally appropriate skeletal structure. In addition to tissue level strain magnitude, the mechanism of bone adaptation has demonstrated close relation in cellular and tissue interface coupled by extracellular fluid flow. Promising results show that the application of fluid intervention in hard tissues to in vivo animal models will increase bone formation and inhibition of bone loss. To further understand of this adaptive mechanism has potential to develop non-invasive intervention on the treatment and prevention of bone diseases such as osteoporosis. The interdependent roles of the mechanical signals are investigated through empiric and analytic models, cell culture, and in vitro perfusion to provide support for the complex interactive mechanism of bone remodeling. The research of this laboratory is also focus on the development of non-invasive scanning acoustic diagnostic system for tissue quality. The goal of this project is to develop a new technology, which will lead to a better understand of the progressive adaptation of bone loss in aging populations and microgravity environment using noninvasive ultrasound scanning. The technology will be used for assessing musculoskeletal complications such as osteoporosis.

Funding Sources: NIH, Army, NSBRI, and Whitaker

Facilities: MTS mechanical testing machines, Hysitron Nanomechanical testing system, HP superworkstation, Zeiss microscope, Scanco microCT, National Instrumentation strain gage amplifier, histomorphometry system for hard tissue.