Skeletal muscle atrophy can occur for a number of reasons including degenerative diseases and age-related sarcopenia. Current pre-clinical studies for regeneration therapies are solely reliant on animal models, which do not accurately mimic human tissue and chemistry. The purpose of developing this device was to provide a reproducible manner of creating an in vitro skeletal muscle model that will aid in preclinical therapy testing. The device was designed to maintain a sterile environment for tissue culture, which provides anchorage, periodic strain, and generates an electric field to stimulate contraction. The intended output of the device is the controlled culture of a minimal functional unit of skeletal muscle that surpasses current standards of in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical models.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Fidanza, Alyssa Marie
• Greco, Steven Charles
• Fitzgibbon, Jonathan James
• Pfizenmaier, Todd Mannion

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042413-115942

Advisor

• Page, Raymond L.

Year

• 2013

Date created

• 2013-04-24

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright