The laboratory is licensed to house and test human tissue. It’s undergone more than £600,000 of equipment investment in the last 5 years. Specialist equipment includes:

Bose Electroforce 3100 and 3200 systems and accessories that are capable of low load dynamical testing of tissues and biomaterials at frequencies up to 200Hz. It has biodynamic chambers, flow pumps, a temperature controlled saline bath and complete flexibility in creating user defined testing regimens. These ensure that tissues and biomaterials can be tested in an environment which mimics that experienced physiologically.

Atomic Force Microscope (Asylum Research MFP-3D) complete with nanoindentation functionality is being used to probe the surface characteristics of tissues and biomaterials. Currently fitted with an AM-FM viscoelastic mapping mode, we’re able to generate topographical information at the sub-micron level and have enhanced surface material property characterisation. Together with a Zeiss Axio Observer inverted optical microscope, we have the capability of testing live tissues and cells at 37°C with fluorescence in combination with AFM. This is ideal for the assessment of mechanobiological investigations.

Instron Electropuls E10000 with linear-torsion capability can test biomedical materials and devices up to 10kN. This equipment is routinely used to assess orthopaedic implants. This unique facility, capable of testing materials and tissues from the nano-scale up to entire tissues and devices, has been used with a broad range of stakeholders, from SME’s through to the NHS and clinical consultants.

Recent work using these facilities has experimentally validated and enabled the development of advanced computational models of collagen hydrogels, heart valves, bone, intervertebral disc tissue and, in collaboration with Vascutek and Bill Dempster from the department of mechanical & aerospace engineering, aorta, vital for the company’s development of novel endovascular devices.