title: A polymeric cell stretching device for real-time imaging with optical microscopy.
abstract: This paper reports the design, fabrication and characterization of a cell stretching device based on the side stretching approach. Numerical simulation using finite element method provides a guideline for optimizing the geometry and maximizing the output strain of the stretched membrane. An unique PDMS-based micro fabrication process was developed for obtaining high parallelization, well controlled membrane thickness and an ultra-thin bottom layer that is crucial for the use with confocal microscopes. The stretching experiments are fully automated with both device actuation and image acquisition. A programmable pneumatic control system was built for simultaneous driving of 24 stretching arrays. The actuation signals are synchronized with the image acquisition system to obtain time-lapse recording of cells grown on the stretched membrane. Experimental results verified the characteristics predicted by the simulation. A platform with 15 stretching units was integrated on a standard 24 mm × 50 mm glass slide. Each unit can achieve a maximum strain of more than 60 %. The platform was tested for cell growth under cyclic stretching. The preliminary results show that the device is compatible with all standard microscopes.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yuli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Nam-Trung
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D048430:Cell Shape; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D004867:Equipment Design; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D055616:Microtechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; C013830:baysilon