Cartilage Growth . Alex Eddington, Nicholas Denney Design Concept Advisors: Dr. T. Bou-Akl, Dr. Y. Li Abstract This study hopes to identify a potential solution to arthritis.  In theory, cells will differentiate into chondrocytes when they undergo mechanical stimulation induced by hydrostatic pressure.  Current research has shown this method to be effective, when used in combination with growth factors. This tissue engineered approach involves the use of extracellular matrix component (collagen) and mechanical stimulation in a custom made bioreactor as cues to stimulate the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes. Design Concept Pneumatic Piston Solenoid Air Compressor 60 ml Syringe Microcontroller Bioreactor Results Background 50% of the population will endure Arthritis Current treatments: pain medications and injections or total joint replacement Cartilage is hard to repair and does not heal due to the lack of blood supply Tissue Engineering Cells Scaffolds Signals A B . Histology was done using Hematoxylin and Eosin Stain on paraffin sections after mechanical stimulation for one week. Cells attached well and formed aggregates (arrows)on the collagen scaffolds. (magnifications: A 20X, B 40X different area) Conclusion and Future Work At this time point (day 7) we can conclude that, the collagen scaffolds supported the attachment of BMMSCs. However it was too early to distinguish whether or not there was proteoglycan deposition. This calls for a need to further study with a longer testing period. Acknowledgements We’d like to thank Kern Foundation for funding through LEGENDS Entrepreneurial Student Awards (LESA). References Afra, Robert. "Arthritis." Dr. Robert Afra – San Diego Orthopedic Surgery. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2016. Antonio Boccaccio and Carmine Pappalettere (2011). Mechanobiology of Fracture Healing: Basic Principles and Applications in Orthodontics and Orthopaedics, Theoretical Biomechanics, Dr Vaclav Klika (Ed.), InTech, DOI: 10.5772/19420. Bartis, Domokos, and Judit Pongrácz. "Three dimensional tissue cultures and tissue engineering." (2011). Web. 13 Apr. 2016. Kelc Robi, Naranda Jakob, Kuhta Matevz and Vogrin Matjaz (2013). The Physiology of Sports Injuries and Repair Processes, Current Issues in Sports and Exercise Medicine, Associate Prof. Michael Hamlin (Ed.), InTech, DOI: 10.5772/54234. "Mesenchymal Stem Cells." STEM CELLS. Institute of Spinal Cord Injury, Iceland, n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.