title: The cell-stretcher: A novel device for the mechanical stimulation of cell populations.
abstract: Mechanical stimulation appears to be a critical modulator for many aspects of biology, both of living tissue and cells. The cell-stretcher, a novel device for the mechanical uniaxial stimulation of populations of cells, is described. The system is based on a variable stroke cam-lever-tappet mechanism which allows the delivery of cyclic stimuli with frequencies of up to 10 Hz and deformation between 1% and 20%. The kinematics is presented and a simulation of the dynamics of the system is shown, in order to compute the contact forces in the mechanism. The cells, following cultivation and preparation, are plated on an ad hoc polydimethylsiloxane membrane which is then loaded on the clamps of the cell-stretcher via force-adjustable magnetic couplings. In order to show the viability of the experimentation and biocompatibility of the cell-stretcher, a set of two in vitro tests were performed. Human epithelial carcinoma cell line A431 and Adult Mouse Ventricular Fibroblasts (AMVFs) from a dual reporter mouse were subject to 0.5 Hz, 24 h cyclic stretching at 15% strain, and to 48 h stimulation at 0.5 Hz and 15% strain, respectively. Visual analysis was performed on A431, showing definite morphological changes in the form of cellular extroflections in the direction of stimulation compared to an unstimulated control. A cytometric analysis was performed on the AMVF population. Results show a post-stimulation live-dead ratio deviance of less than 6% compared to control, which proves that the environment created by the cell-stretcher is suitable for in vitro experimentation.
authors: Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Seriani
authors: Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Del Favero
authors: Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado 80045, USA.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Mahaffey
authors: Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Marko
authors: Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Gallina
authors: University of Colorado and Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, Colorado 80204, USA.
authors: C S
authors: CS
authors: Long
authors: Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado 80045, USA.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Mestroni
authors: Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Sbaizero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D033081:Shear Strength