Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering in Partial Gravity
Gravity plays a significant role in various biological processes, including tissue regeneration. On Earth, gravity helps maintain bone density, muscle mass, and overall tissue health through mechanical loading. Thus, it is important to study how partial gravity conditions affect MSK tissue regeneration and rehabilitation. In particular, on Earth, long term bed-rest patients can benefit from research targeting to understand how MSK tissue response to partial gravity.
During bed rest, the body experiences several physiological changes similar to what astronauts experience in partial gravity. These changes include muscle atrophy, bone loss, cardiovascular deconditioning, and fluid shifts. Studying bed rest patients allows scientists to investigate these changes and develop countermeasures to mitigate the negative effects, which can be applied to space exploration.
During bed rest, the body experiences several physiological changes similar to what astronauts experience in partial gravity. These changes include muscle atrophy, bone loss, cardiovascular deconditioning, and fluid shifts. Studying bed rest patients allows scientists to investigate these changes and develop countermeasures to mitigate the negative effects, which can be applied to space exploration.
Selected List of Publications on MSK Tissue Engineering in Partial Gravity
- (2021) Dhar S, Kaeley DK, Kanan MJ, Yildirim-Ayan E. Mechano-Immunomodulation in Space: Mechanisms Involving Microgravity-Induced Changes in T Cells. Life (Basel). 2021 Oct 3;11(10) PubMed Central ID: PMC8537592.
