Facilities
The Orthopaedics Research Laboratory is an 8600 square foot well-equipped lab staffed by orthopaedic surgeons, engineers, scientists, and technicians. The laboratory includes an surgical suite, tissue preparation room, cell culture and tissue engineering areas, histology lab, microbiology lab and biomaterials and nanotechnology room.
Arthroscopy Lab
The Orthopaedic Research Lab houses an arthroscopy wet lab. It has a Stryker arthroscopic system that contains all the components required to conduct teaching labs with the residents or to conduct research. The lab has access to fresh cadaver tissue that is utilized for both teaching and research.
Biochemical Tissue Analysis Lab
The biochemical tissue analysis lab includes the following capabilities, focused primarily on the spatial arrangement of inflammation: cytokine analysis (Luminex), thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, cryogrinding, thermal imaging, near infrared imaging, small animal PET imaging, gas chromatography, and fluorescence polarization plate reading.
Cadaveric Teaching Lab
The cadaver teaching lab is equipped with a full array of surgical instrumentation, including power equipment, for anatomical dissection. Often the dissection is to practice procedures and surgical approaches, while at other times dissection is an integral part of research projects that involves specific cadaveric tissue. This particularly valuable asset is available to faculty and residents.
Cell Culture & Histology Lab
The cell culture lab is fully equipped with all the essential equipment required for growing and maintaining cell cultures. Human cell lines, animal cell lines, and tissue-derived cells are analyzed here and used in experiments within the department. The histology lab is equipped to process tissue samples for immunohistochemistry and includes a fume hood, an embedding station, and a microtome, which are available at all times for departmental use.
Microbiology, Biofilms, and Infection Lab
The microbiology lab focuses on infection, analysis of biofilm formation, including intra- and extracellular microbial infections. Available equipment includes: CDC biofilm reactors, electrolysis equipment, cell and bacterial culture equipment.
Microsurgery Lab
The microsurgery lab is primarily used for basic sciences research. There are a wide range of surgeries and ongoing experiments occurring at any given time. This lab provides space and a variety of instruments used for training surgical technique and conducting ongoing studies, both short and long-term. Currently there is a toxicology study being carried out in a murine model and next up is an experiment introducing infection via an intramedullary nailing procedure. Many procedures are quite delicate and require the use of operating microscopes that are also maintained in the lab.
Molecular Biology Lab
Routine molecular biological analyses and tests on tissue and cultured cell lines are performed in this laboratory. RNA extraction from cartilage and bone tissue, and other cultured cells, can also be followed by real-time PCR. This lab is also equipped to carry out protein extraction, gene-transfer research as well as plasmid cloning.
Nanotechnology Lab
The lab is outfitted with state of the art robotic equipment for nanotechnological applications. Some of the on-going projects include: syringe-based nanofiber spinning, 3D bioprinting, robotic biomimetic coating application, development of antibiotic loaded nanocoatings and local delivery of IL-12 for infection prevention, drug-infused nanocoatings for rapid fracture healing, production of polypeptide-loaded nanoparticles, and the use of microcapsules for sustained drug delivery.
Radiographic Imaging Lab
The radiographic imaging lab includes x-ray capabilities and in-house film development in the lab's dedicated dark room. These are located in proximity to the microsurgery suite, enabling experiments that combine surgical intervention with x-ray imaging.
Image Analysis Center
The Orthopaedic Research Lab utilizes excellent optical facilities located at the Image Analysis Center, Department of Anatomy. The center supports transmitted and reflected light microscopy with Optimus image analysis software, inverted stage microscopy, confocal microscopy, and SEM. Image analysis and slide-making workstations are also available.