Thermo mechanical studies of cells with nano probes on Si Substrate
| Category | Publications |
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| Abstract | Interpreting the role of mechanical forces and geometric constraints is crucial to understand cellular function and development. It has been seen that the type and direction of mechanical stimuli and alignment by topography can lead to significant differences in cell behavior but the mechanisms are not completely understood. We apply long term cyclic tensile stretch (CTS) using substrates with micro-patterned adhesive lines to study its effect on the structure and function of C2C12 skeletal myoblasts. Photolithography and micro-contact printing were used to pattern fibronectin on a passivating NCO-sP(EO-stat-PO) surface in a Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chamber. C2C12 cells were seeded in the chambers on patterns of 30 μm line width at 0°, 45°, and 90° orientations relative to the strain direction. Adhesive micro-patterns and passivation were maintained for more than 4 days of CTS with no signs of degradation. Our results indicate that CTS and micro-patterned lines strongly affected actin stress fiber orientation resulting in the highest organization on lines transverse to the applied strain with decreasing alignment as line orientation approached the strain direction. Nuclei aspect ratio was also significantly affected, resulting in elongation. Morphologically, myotube formation was incomplete after 4 days. Interestingly, actin striations were observed exclusively on the 45° line patterns subjected to CTS. |
| Contributor | Mourad Ouzzani
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| Bio | Wylie Ahmed received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of IL at Urbana-Champaign in 2008. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering under the supervision of Prof. Taher Saif. Research interests include cellular mechanics, and more specifically, the mechanics of neurotransmission.
Taher Saif received both this B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and Washington State University in 1984 and 1987, respectively. He received his PhD in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Cornell University in 1993. He then held a postdoctoral position in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the National Nano-Fabrication Facility at Cornell University from 1993-1996. He is currently a Gutsgell Professor of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering at the University of IL at Urbana-Champaign. Professor Saif's research focuses on the mechanics of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), fracture mechanics, submicron materials behavior and bio-MEMS. He uses MEMS devices, often of his own design, to explore the mechanics of extremely small things-from nanocrystalline metal films to living cells. |
| Sponsored By | NSF ECCS 0524675 |
| Cite this work | Researchers should cite this work as follows: Wylie Ahmed and Taher Saif, "Thermo mechanical studies of cells with nano probes on Si Substrate", Trip report presented at the NSF IREE 2008 Grantees Conference, May 2008, Washington, D.C. |
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