Measurement of in-plane elasticity of live cell layers using a pressure sensor embedded microfluidic device.
In various physiological activities, cells experience stresses along their in-plane direction when facing substrate deformation. Capability of continuous monitoring elasticity of live cell layers during a period is highly desired to investigate cell property variation during various transformations under normal or disease states. This paper reports time-lapsed measurement of live cell layer in-plane elasticity using a pressure sensor embedded microfluidic device. The sensor converts pressure-induced deformation of a flexible membrane to electrical signals. When cells are cultured on top of the membrane, flexural rigidity of the composite membrane increases and further changes the output electrical signals. In the experiments, human embryonic lung fibroblast (MRC-5) cells are cultured and analyzed to estimate the in-plane elasticity. In addition, the cells are treated with a growth factor to simulate lung fibrosis to study the effects of cell transformation on the elasticity variation. For comparison, elasticity measurement on the cells by atomic force microscopy (AFM) is also performed. The experimental results confirm highly anisotropic configuration and material properties of cells. Furthermore, the in-plane elasticity can be monitored during the cell transformation after the growth factor stimulation. Consequently, the developed microfluidic device provides a powerful tool to study physical properties of cells for fundamental biophysics and biomedical researches.
Academia Sinica, Research Center for Applied Sciences, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
Chien-Han
CH
Lin
Tamkang University, Department of Civil Engineering, New Taipei City, 25137, Taiwan.
Chien-Kai
CK
Wang
National Taiwan University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
Yu-An
YA
Chen
Academia Sinica, Research Center for Applied Sciences, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
Chien-Chung
CC
Peng
Academia Sinica, Research Center for Applied Sciences, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
Wei-Hao
WH
Liao
Academia Sinica, Research Center for Applied Sciences, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
Yi-Chung
YC
Tung
D002460:Cell Line; D060833:Cellular Microenvironment; D004548:Elasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011312:Pressure; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta