Collagen abundance in mechanically stimulated osteoblast cultures using near infrared microscopy.

Collagen abundance in osteoblast cell cultures was determined using near infrared microscopy with chemical imaging (NIR-CI) with and without mechanical stimulation of the the cells. MC3T3-E1 mouse osteoblast cells seeded on a polycarbonate substrate were mechanically stimulated using static loads of 13.5 N, 27 N and 40 N applied to the substrates during 2, 4, 6 and 8 days of incubation. Results show that the cells increased their collagen production with 13.5 N and 27 N loads when compared to the control sample with a 27 N load resulting in a noteworthy increase (109%) in collagen production. The 40 N load on the other hand, resulted in an initial decrease in the collagen expression in the extracellular matrix, possibly as a result of cell death or inhibition of the protein secretion process followed by an increase in collagen after cell recovery and proliferation. Qualitative confirmation of these results was performed using confocal microscopy.