Pneumatic unidirectional cell stretching device for mechanobiological studies of cardiomyocytes.

ABSTRACT: In this paper, we present a transparent mechanical stimulation device capable of uniaxial stimulation, which is compatible with standard bioanalytical methods used in cellular mechanobiology. We validate the functionality of the uniaxial stimulation system using human-induced pluripotent stem cells-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). The pneumatically controlled device is fabricated from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and provides uniaxial strain and superior optical performance compatible with standard inverted microscopy techniques used for bioanalytics (e.g., fluorescence microscopy and calcium imaging). Therefore, it allows for a continuous investigation of the cell state during stretching experiments. The paper introduces design and fabrication of the device, characterizes the mechanical

SUBMITTER: Kreutzer J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7005075 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature