Year of publication:
2009
Journal name:
PNAS
Microfabricated tissue gauges to measure and manipulate forces from 3D microtissues
http://www.pnas.org –
Physical forces generated by cells drive morphologic changes
during development and can feedback to regulate cellular phenotypes.
Because these phenomena typically occur within a 3-dimensional
(3D) matrix in vivo, we used microelectromechanical systems
(MEMS) technology to generate arrays of microtissues consisting
of cells encapsulated within 3D micropatterned matrices. Microcantilevers
were used to simultaneously constrain the remodeling
of a collagen gel and to report forces generated during this process.
By concurrently measuring forces and observing matrix remodeling Read more »
Regenerative Medicine Special Feature: Enabling tools for engineering collagenous tissues...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov –
Many investigators have engineered diverse connective tissues having good mechanical properties, yet few tools enable a global understanding of the associated formation of collagen fibers, the primary determinant of connective tissue stiffness. Toward this end, we developed a biomechanical model for collagenous tissues grown on polymer scaffolds that accounts for the kinetics of polymer degradation as well as the synthesis and degradation of multiple families of collagen fibers in response to cyclic strains imparted in a bioreactor. Read more »
Year of publication:
2009
Journal name:
PubMed
Category: Tissue Mechanotransduction Tags:
Temporal Effects of Cyclic Stretching on Distribution and Gene Expression of Integrin and Cytoskeleton by Ligament Fibroblasts In Vitro
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov –
Cyclic stretching is pivotal to maintenance of the ligaments. However, it is still not clear when ligament fibroblasts switch on expression of genes related to the mechanotransduction pathway in response to cyclic stretching. This in vitro study investigated, using ligament fibroblasts, the time-dependent changes in distribution and gene expression of β1 integrin, the cytoskeleton, and collagens after the application of 6% cyclic stretching at a frequency of 0.1 Hz for 3 hr on silicon membranes. Read more »
Year of publication:
2009
Journal name:
Connective Tissue Research