This research program probes how articular chondrocytes sense and respond to mechanical stimuli via integrin-mediated signaling and the cytoskeleton. Supported by an NSF CAREER award titled “Integrin-Mediated Mechanotransduction of Articular Chondrocytes,” this program centers on defining homeostatic mechanisms that govern chondrocyte behavior under physical cues and leveraging that knowledge to build improved in vitro models for drug screening and mechanistic studies.
The Wood lab applies tissue engineering strategies, computational and experimental approaches, and novel biomaterials to quantify and predict cellular responses to physical inputs. Core aims include dissecting the intersection of the chondrocyte cytoskeleton with integrin signaling pathways and translating mechanistic insight into a Microphysiological Articular Joint In a Chip (MAJIC) — a microfluidic, multi-tissue model of the human articular joint intended for preclinical pharmaceutical research.
The lab’s expertise spans 3D printing, atomic force microscopy, biomaterials, biomechanics, fluorescence and image analysis, immunocytochemistry, and cell culture, enabling an integrated approach to mechanobiology. Publications from the group and collaborators demonstrate the program’s focus: spectral characterization of cell surface motion for mechanistic investigation of mechanobiology; development of micropatterned nanocomposite platforms for maintaining chondrocyte morphology; and studies of redox regulation and MAP kinase signaling in human articular chondrocytes. These lines of work contribute foundational understanding of how cytoskeletal structure, extracellular matrix interactions, and redox state influence signal transduction in chondrocytes exposed to mechanical or biochemical stressors.
Translational outputs and intellectual property activity further underscore the project’s emphasis on engineered solutions. Patents and pending applications from Wood include micropatterned hydrogels for cell culture, microfluidic platforms for culturing cells, and a biomimetic joint on a chip. The MAJIC concept directly aligns with the NSF Partnerships for Innovation-Technology Transfer award in the Wood lab portfolio that supports a modular joint-on-a-chip for early in vitro preclinical pharmaceutical research, indicating a coordinated effort to move mechanobiology insights toward usable drug-screening tools.
By integrating quantitative experimental methods with engineered microphysiological systems, Wood’s CAREER-supported project aims to clarify how integrin-dependent mechanotransduction regulates chondrocyte function and resilience. Improved mechanistic understanding can inform the design of biomimetic culture platforms that preserve chondrocyte phenotype and enable more predictive testing of candidate therapeutics, with relevance to knee osteoarthritis and broader joint health research identified among the lab’s expertise. This research program bundles fundamental discovery, methodological innovation, and translational device development to advance the study of joint biology and to provide platforms that could reduce reliance on less predictive preclinical models.
