# Multi-Scale In Vitro 3D Tissue Model of Vascularized Bone-Cartilage Interactions

> **NIH NIH R44** · CFD RESEARCH CORPORATION · 2022 · $836,797

## Abstract

Abstract
Current in vitro models of vascularized bone tissues do not mimic the in vivo microenvironment
comprising of diverse cell types in communication with each other through stromal barriers. In
addition, they are hampered by lack of real-time visualization and quantitation of vasculature-
bone as well as bone-cartilage interactions. In contrast, animal models while providing useful
information are time consuming, expensive and in recent years, have increasingly raised ethical
concerns. Furthermore, animal studies provide limited understanding of mechanistic behavior
compared to well-controlled in vitro studies. Thus, there is an unmet need for an in vitro platform
for improved monitoring and analysis of vascularized bone-cartilage interactions.
In Phase I we successfully developed and demonstrated a multi-scale in vitro model comprising
of a micro scale microfluidic device and a meso scale bioreactor to mimic the in vivo conditions.
We successfully differentiated in the platform patient derived human mesenchymal stem cells
(hMSCs) towards osteogenic and chondrogenic lineages highlighting interactions with vascular
endothelial cells. Following detailed functional characterizations, we demonstrated the capability
of the platform to evaluate functionality for an anti-inflammatory therapeutic. In Phase II we will
test additional pro-inflammatory components that mimic the native osteochondral
microenvironment. We will also use our multi-scale system for (a) mechanistic understanding
and (b) therapeutic screening of candidate treatments following inflammatory insults. Finally, we
will develop the infrastructure to increase the throughput capability by multiplexing the platform
for automation.
A multi-disciplinary industry-academic partnership with expertise in microfluidics cell-based
assays and musculoskeletal biology and tissue regeneration has been assembled for successful
completion of this project. By providing an accurate, quantitative and predictive model of
physiological interactions, the developed multi-scale platform promises to establish a new
paradigm for in vitro assessment of the physiological response to therapeutics.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10494108
- **Project number:** 5R44AR072169-03
- **Recipient organization:** CFD RESEARCH CORPORATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Kevin Roehm
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $836,797
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-21 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10494108

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10494108, Multi-Scale In Vitro 3D Tissue Model of Vascularized Bone-Cartilage Interactions (5R44AR072169-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10494108. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*