Articular Joints
Microfluidic platforms recreating the articular joint environment, combining cartilage, bone, and synovial tissues to study osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and evaluate potential therapeutic interventions.
Osteoarthritis on Chip
We develop joint-on-chip models that recapitulate the hallmarks of osteoarthritis, including cartilage degradation, subchondral bone remodeling, and synovial inflammation. Using mechanically stimulated osteochondral microtissues, we study disease progression and evaluate disease-modifying drugs in a controlled microfluidic environment.
Osteoarthritis on Chip — image coming soon
Developmental Biology
Our platforms model the mesenchymal condensation and chondrogenic differentiation processes that drive cartilage and bone development. By recapitulating morphogenetic gradients in microfluidic devices, we investigate the signaling pathways governing skeletal tissue formation and regeneration.
Developmental Biology — image coming soon
Shear Stresses
Mechanical loading is a critical regulator of joint tissue homeostasis. We engineer microfluidic systems that apply controlled compressive and shear forces to cartilage constructs, enabling the study of mechanotransduction pathways and their role in both healthy maintenance and pathological degradation.
Shear Stresses — image coming soon
Joint-on-Chip
Our integrated joint-on-chip platform combines cartilage, bone, synovium, and vascular compartments in a single multi-tissue device. This holistic approach enables the study of inter-tissue crosstalk and systemic drug effects on the complete articular joint unit.
Joint-on-Chip — image coming soon
Related Publications
Modular de- and re-construction of vascularized osteochondral tissues in an Organ-on-Chip dual-compartment platform
Mainardi, A., Barbero, A., Ehrbar, M., Rasponi, M., Martin, I. et al.
A Compartmentalized Joint-on-chip (JoC) Model to Unravel the Contribution of Cartilage and Synovium to Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis
Palma, C., Salehi, S., Polidoro, M.A., Moretti, M., Rasponi, M. et al.
An Organ-on-Chip Platform for Strain-Controlled, Tissue-Specific Compression of Cartilage and Mineralized Osteochondral Interface to Study Mechanical Overloading in Osteoarthritis
Mainardi, A., Börsch, A., Occhetta, P., Ivanek, R., Ehrbar, M. et al.
An Advanced Mechanically Active Osteoarthritis-on-Chip Model to Test Injectable Therapeutic Formulations: The SYN321 Case Study
Palma, C., Piazza, S., Visone, R., Ringom, R., Bjorklund, U. et al.
Development of a Microfluidic Vascularized Osteochondral Model as a Drug Testing Platform for Osteoarthritis
Salehi, S., Brambilla, S., Rasponi, M., Lopa, S., Moretti, M.
Immunomodulatory biomimetic nanoparticles target articular cartilage trauma after systemic administration
Mancino, C., Pasto, A., De Rosa, E., Dolcetti, L., Rasponi, M. et al.
Modeling In Vitro Osteoarthritis Phenotypes in a Vascularized Bone Model Based on a Bone-Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Cell Line and Endothelial Cells
Pirosa, A., Tankus, E.B., Mainardi, A., Occhetta, P., Dönges, L. et al.
Recapitulating monocyte extravasation to the synovium in an organotypic microfluidic model of the articular joint
Mondadori, C., Palombella, S., Salehi, S., Talò, G., Visone, R. et al.
Hyperphysiological compression of articular cartilage induces an osteoarthritic phenotype in a cartilage-on-a-chip model
Occhetta, P., Mainardi, A., Votta, E., Vallmajo-Martin, Q., Ehrbar, M. et al.
Developmentally inspired programming of adult human mesenchymal stromal cells toward stable chondrogenesis
Occhetta, P., Pigeot, S., Rasponi, M., Dasen, B., Mehrkens, A. et al.
Mechanical Induction of Osteoarthritis Traits in a Cartilage-on-a-Chip Model
Mainardi, A., Occhetta, P., Rasponi, M.
Chondrocyte Hypertrophy in Osteoarthritis: Mechanistic Studies and Models for the Identification of New Therapeutic Strategies
Chawla, S., Mainardi, A., Majumder, N., Dönges, L., Kumar, B. et al.
Engineered nasal cartilage for the repair of osteoarthritic knee cartilage defects
Rua, L.A., Mumme, M., Manferdini, C., Darwiche, S., Khalil, A.M. et al.
Blockage of bone morphogenetic protein signalling counteracts hypertrophy in a human osteoarthritic micro-cartilage model
Chawla, S., Berkelaar, M.H.M., Dasen, B., Halleux, C., Guth-Gundel, S. et al.
Challenges Toward the Identification of Predictive Markers for Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Chondrogenic Potential
Stüdle, C., Occhetta, P., Geier, F., Mehrkens, A., Barbero, A. et al.
Learn, simplify and implement: developmental re-engineering strategies for cartilage repair
Occhetta, P., Stüdle, C., Barbero, A., Martin, I.
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