The Impact of Simulated and Real Microgravity on Bone Cells and Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Figure 1
(a) Two 2D clinostat devices in an incubator constructed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Biomedical Science Support Center, Gravitational Biology, Cologne, Germany. (b, c): Random Positioning Machine simulating microgravity. It was developed by T. Hoson in Japan and manufactured by Dutch Space (former Fokker Space). The basic principle consists of an inner and an outer frame rotating independently from each other in random direction. The samples in the center of the machine experience low gravity as the gravity vector is averaged to zero over time. The redesign of the classical RPM with a CO2-Incubator with temperature and CO2-level control was realized by Professor Jörg Sekler, Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW), Institut für Automation, Switzerland, and tested by PD Dr. Marcel Egli, Hochschule Luzern—Technik & Architektur, CC Aerospace Biomedical Science & Technology, Hergiswil, Switzerland.
