title: Micropatterned stretching system for the investigation of mechanical tension on neural stem cells behavior.
abstract: In this study, we developed a feasible and reliable stretching platform combined with photolithography and microfluidic techniques to investigate the effect of directional tensile force and guiding microchannel on neural stem cell (NSC) behavior. Different stretching modes and culture conditions were conducted to investigate the mechanoresponse of NSCs on micropatterned substrate and to verify the effects of tension on NSCs maturation, axon sprouting, neurite outgrowth and orientation. From the results, we found that neurite extension and axon elongation were significantly enhanced and neurites were more directional orientated to parallel direction as stretching was experienced. The mechanical tension apparently influenced NSCs differentiation toward neuronal cells under stretching condition. The neuronal maturity also showed a significant difference when compared with parallel and vertical micropatterned channels. It is suggested that mechanical tension not only can guide neurites orientation and direction, but also promote their elongation length and trigger neural stem cells differentiation into mature neuronal cells.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This group of investigators report the development of a feasible and reliable stretching platform combined with photolithography and microfluidic techniques to investigate the effects of directional tensile force and guiding microchannel on neural stem cell behavior. They demonstrate that neurite extension and axon elongation could be significantly enhanced, and neuronal maturity can also be improved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu-Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Cho-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Fan-Gang
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Tsung-Ju
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tzu-Wei
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes