title: An approach to quantifying 3D responses of cells to extreme strain.
abstract: The tissues of hollow organs can routinely stretch up to 2.5 times their length. Although significant pathology can arise if relatively large stretches are sustained, the responses of cells are not known at these levels of sustained strain. A key challenge is presenting cells with a realistic and well-defined three-dimensional (3D) culture environment that can sustain such strains. Here, we describe an in vitro system called microscale, magnetically-actuated synthetic tissues (micro-MASTs) to quantify these responses for cells within a 3D hydrogel matrix. Cellular strain-threshold and saturation behaviors were observed in hydrogel matrix, including strain-dependent proliferation, spreading, polarization, and differentiation, and matrix adhesion retained at strains sufficient for apoptosis. More broadly, the system shows promise for defining and controlling the effects of mechanical environment upon a broad range of cells.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.|Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
authors.forename: Yuhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.|Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
authors.forename: Guoyou
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
authors.forename: Moxiao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.|Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.|Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Saint Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.|Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Saint Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.|Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, USA.
authors.forename: Elliot L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Elson
authors.affiliation: Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
authors.forename: Tian Jian
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.|Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.|Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.|Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, USA.
authors.forename: Guy M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Genin
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.|Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels