title: A system to impose prescribed homogenous strains on cultured cells.
abstract: There is presently significant interest in cellular responses to physical forces, and numerous devices have been developed to apply stretch to cultured cells. Many of the early devices were limited by the heterogeneity of deformation of cells in different locations and by the high degree of anisotropy at a particular location. We have therefore developed a system to impose cyclic, large-strain, homogeneous stretch on a multiwell surface-treated silicone elastomer substrate plated with pulmonary epithelial cells. The pneumatically driven mechanism consists of four plates each with a clamp to fix one edge of the cruciform elastomer substrate. Four linear bearings set at predetermined angles between the plates ensure a constant ratio of principal strains throughout the stretch cycle. We present the design of the device and membrane shape, the surface modifications of the membrane to promote cell adhesion, predicted and experimental measurements of the strain field, and new data using cultured airway epithelial cells. We present for the first time the relationship between the magnitude of cyclic mechanical strain and the extent of wound closure and cell spreading.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA. cwaters@physio1.utmem.edu
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Glucksberg
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Lautenschlager
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Van Matre
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Warp
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Savla
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Castner
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bearinger
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011312:Pressure; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013499:Surface Properties; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011453:Prostaglandins; D015232:Dinoprostone