Macrophysiological system to improve the understanding of the action mechanisms of intra-articular therapeutics on joint tissues – MaPSJoint

There is no treatment to reverse the osteoarthritis (OA) physio-pathological process. One therapeutic option in the following years could focus on the intra-articular space to limit (1) the side effects, (2) the drug interaction, and (3) to increase therapeutic efficacy. For this, the development of new macro-scaled study systems reproducing the various joint structures is needed to consider the mechanical stresses applied to articular cartilage while preserving fluid exchanges between these structures. Our objective is to improve the understanding of the mechanisms of action of IA therapeutics or medical devices on joint tissues through local treatment injections. We use a complex, innovative tool combining a bioreactor that reproduces mechanical stresses and modular macrofluidic systems for fluid exchanges. The novelty of this project lies in the combination of a bioreactor (for mechanical and electrical constraints) and several fluid chambers (with a serial assembly) that will house joint articular explants to reproduce an artificial mini-joint in order to allow concomitant use of mechanical and biochemical stimuli of the samples to mimic physio-pathological conditions.
The experimental approach will be built around four main work packages implying four partners.
WP1. Management of the project (0-48 months)
WP2. Design of perfused bioreactor dedicated to mechanical and electrical characterization of chondral biopsies (0-36 months)
WP3. Design of millifluidic modulable chambers dedicated to cartilage, synovial membrane, and fluid adaptable connectable to the bioreactor (0-24 months)
WP4. Adaptation of dedicated in vitro explant models and validation of the full mini-joint device. (0-48 months).