ARI scientists at “Graubünden forscht”
Laura Mecchi, who is completing her PhD at AO Research Institute Davos (ARI), was interviewed for the Swiss newspaper “Bündner Woche” by Barbara Caderas from Academia Raetica. Along with several other ARI scientists, Mecchi will be presenting her research at “Graubünden forscht” in Davos, Switzerland, on November 8 and 9, 2024
Cartilage regeneration through movement
Research on self-healing of joints
“Research is fun,” said Laura Mecchi, a PhD student at AO Research Institute Davos (ARI), enthusiastically. “One of the best moments is when a study is completed, and you get the answers to the questions you previously posed.” However, research usually progresses in tiny steps and can take years or even decades before the results are visible in patients. Laura’s motto: “You have to stay positive and not let failure overwhelm you.”
Mecchi is in her third year of a project investigating how damaged cartilage tissue can regenerate itself. The body cannot heal cartilage in the knees, hips, and elbows as quickly as it heals other tissues, such as skin or bones, because cartilage lacks blood vessels. This makes it difficult for cells to reach the area to initiate regeneration. However, researchers have already discovered that movement and mechanical forces can activate a specialized protein in the cells, stimulating cartilage tissue regeneration. Mecchi is currently focusing on questions such as: What type of movement produces the best results? Or is it a combination of forces acting on the knee, for example? And how often and for how long should these movements be performed each day?
The studies are conducted using simple models. ARI has several machines with different stations that mimic knee movements, making observing the impact on cells and their changes possible. These stations consist of a holder, a scaffold, and a bioreactor. The bioreactor includes a smooth ceramic ball, similar to those used in artificial hip joints, a holder, and a motor. The ball moves either up and down (compression) or back and forth (shearing). Special bone marrow stem cells are injected into a 3D-printed polymer structure. This structure is placed in the holder, surrounded by a so-called medium—similar to what is found in the human body. For now, the structure is exposed to the forces of the ceramic ball for one hour per day. After approximately three to four weeks, the 3D-printed structure is examined for the presence of the protein in question.
“The next step could be to study the behavior of the cells under conditions of inflammation, which can occur after cartilage injury, and to observe how movement and mechanical forces influence them,” Mecchi explained. Her contract with ARI will end in 2026, and the studies for her doctoral thesis will be completed. Afterwards, someone else will continue the research based on Mecchi’s findings. Mecchi will have the opportunity to present the current status of her research to a broad audience at the conference “Graubünden forscht”, which will take place in November in Davos.
Original article published in “Bündner Woche”, October 23, 2024, p. 39
For the original German version of this article, please click here.