AIM: This article reports the development of a multiarray microchip with real-time imaging capability to apply mechanical strains onto monolayered cell cultures. MATERIALS & METHODS: Cells were cultured on an 8-µm thick membrane that was positioned in the microscope focal plane throughout the stretching process. Each stretching unit was assembled from three elastomeric layers and a glass coverslip. A programmable pneumatic control system was developed to actuate this platform. Multiple stretching experiments were conducted with various cell lines. RESULTS: The platform provides a maximum uniform strain of 69%. Acute and long-term cell morphological changes were observed. The supreme imaging capability was verified by real-time imaging of transfected COS-7 stretching and poststretching imaging of immunofluorescence-stained PTK2. CONCLUSION: The platform reported here is a powerful tool for studying mechanically induced physiological changes in cells. Such a device could be used in tissue regeneration for maintaining essential cell growth conditions.
AIM: This article reports the development of a multiarray microchip with real-time imaging capability to apply mechanical strains onto monolayered cell cultures. MATERIALS & METHODS: Cells were cultured on an 8-µm thick membrane that was positioned in the microscope focal plane throughout the stretching process. Each stretching unit was assembled from three elastomeric layers and a glass coverslip. A programmable pneumatic control system was developed to actuate this platform. Multiple stretching experiments were conducted with various cell lines. RESULTS: The platform provides a maximum uniform strain of 69%. Acute and long-term cell morphological changes were observed. The supreme imaging capability was verified by real-time imaging of transfected COS-7 stretching and poststretching imaging of immunofluorescence-stained PTK2. CONCLUSION: The platform reported here is a powerful tool for studying mechanically induced physiological changes in cells. Such a device could be used in tissue regeneration for maintaining essential cell growth conditions.
Authors: Yue Shao; Xinyu Tan; Roman Novitski; Mishaal Muqaddam; Paul List; Laura Williamson; Jianping Fu; Allen P Liu Journal: Rev Sci Instrum Date: 2013-11 Impact factor: 1.523
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