Rajhi A.A., Coulter J.P., Jedlicka S.S.
Lehigh univeristy, US
Keywords: cell culture, micro/nano injection molding, microfabrication, tissue modulus
Polymeric culture platforms with micro/nano topographies have provided a powerful approach to modulate cell to substrate interactions. Cells respond to chemical and mechanical signals from surrounding microenvironments. While chemical signals have been well studied in the last decade, mechanical cues are also very important to cell growth owing to a surface rigidity and compatibility. It has been recognized that substrate stiffness has a significant effect on traction forces as well as cell differentiation, growth, and mobility. Substrate stiffness plays an important role in cells mechanosensing to determine a proper microenvironment during the cell culturing process. During the current study, substrate topography was used to predict substrate response to cell forces by modeling each pillar as a cantilever beam. Since the cross-sectional shape of each micro/nano pillar is extremely important, this factor was given full consideration. In this study, an analytical expression of effective substrate elastic modulus was arrived at and related to the amount of deflection of the micro/nanoscale beams caused by cellular transduction forces. Euler –Bernoulli and Timoshenko approximations for slender beams (L/D
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 4, Informatics, Electronics and Microsystems: TechConnect Briefs 2018
Published: May 13, 2018
Pages: 134 - 138
Industry sector: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
Topics: Advanced Manufacturing, Advanced Materials for Engineering Applications
ISBN: 978-0-9988782-1-8