title: Multiarray cell stretching platform for high-magnification real-time imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article reports the development of a multiarray microchip with real-time imaging capability to apply mechanical strains onto monolayered cell cultures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cells were cultured on an 8-µm thick membrane that was positioned in the microscope focal plane throughout the stretching process. Each stretching unit was assembled from three elastomeric layers and a glass coverslip. A programmable pneumatic control system was developed to actuate this platform. Multiple stretching experiments were conducted with various cell lines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The platform provides a maximum uniform strain of 69%. Acute and long-term cell morphological changes were observed. The supreme imaging capability was verified by real-time imaging of transfected COS-7 stretching and poststretching imaging of immunofluorescence-stained PTK2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The platform reported here is a powerful tool for studying mechanically induced physiological changes in cells. Such a device could be used in tissue regeneration for maintaining essential cell growth conditions.
authors.affiliation: Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798 Singapore.
authors.forename: Yuli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Nam-Trung
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Khoi Seng
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lok
authors.forename: Peter Peng Foo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Maohan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kocgozlu
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ladoux
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical