Mechanical response of an epithelial island subject to uniaxial stretch on a hybrid silicone substrate.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The mechanical response of large multi-cellular collectives to external stretch has remained largely unexplored, despite its relevance to normal function and to external challenges faced by some tissues. Here, we introduced a simple hybrid silicone substrate to enable external stretch while providing a physiologically relevant physical micro-environment for cells.

Methods

We micropatterned epithelial islands on the substrate using a stencil to allow for a circular island shape without restraining island edges. We then used traction force microscopy to determine the strain energy and the inter-cellular sheet tension within the island as a function of time after stretch.

Results

While the strain energy stored in the substrate for unstretched cell islands st

SUBMITTER: Bashirzadeh Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6516758 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature