22/09/2026
๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฎ ๐๐ขโ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ โ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐? ๐
A few years ago, we shared the story of a research team at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts investigating how cartilage cells respond to changing gravitational forces. ๐
The preparation started on the ground. Primary cartilage cells were cultivated under controlled conditions using a BINDER COโ incubator before being taken to Bordeaux for an ESA parabolic flight campaign.
During 31 parabolas, the researchers exposed the cells to alternating phases of hypergravity and microgravity.
But what happened after the flight? ๐ซ
The results were later published in the peer-reviewed journal Microgravity Science and Technology. Contrary to what previous research might have suggested, the team found no significant changes in the microtubule and vimentin structures of the cartilage cells during the flight.
And the research continued.
In subsequent ESA-funded experiments, the team investigated whether altered gravity affects cellular calcium levels and membrane potential. Two further peer-reviewed studies followed in 2022, again finding that these cellular parameters remained largely unaffected by short periods of altered gravity. ๐ฌ
BINDER is acknowledged for its support in both the 2020 and 2022 publications.
Today, researchers in Lucerne continue to investigate how altered gravity can help us better understand cartilage biology and explore new approaches to cartilage regeneration.
A good reminder that space research can generate insights with applications far beyond space. โ๏ธ ๐ฐ๏ธ
๐ Read the original BINDER case study: https://lnkd.in/ejS9mtBU
