Biophysical Society Thematic Meeting| Aussois 2019

Biology and Physics Confront Cell-Cell Adhesion

Poster Abstracts

28-POS Board 28 NOVEL MAGNETO-ACTUATED LIVE CELL RHEOMETER: INTEGRATED IMAGING AND MECHANICAL MEASUREMENT OF LIVE CELL MONOLAYERS AND TISSUES Adaeze Undieh 1 ; Juho Pokki 2 ; Gerald Fuller 1 ; 1 Stanford University, Chemical Engineering, Stanford, CA, USA 2 Stanford University, Mechanical Engineering, Stanford, CA, USA The mechanical properties of cells are known to influence their function in both health and disease. Cell and tissue rheology has been found to play a crucial role in embryonic development, and abnormal cellular mechanics has been linked to the pathology of many major diseases, including atherosclerosis and breast cancer. To facilitate the integrated study of multicellular mechanics multiple length scales, we have developed an advanced technique – the magneto-actuated live cell rheometer – for measuring the rheology of 2D and 3D cellular collectives. This novel approach offers several improvements over current methods, including whole monolayer/tissue measurement, a simple and well-defined mechanical stimulus, creep and oscillatory rheology capability, integrated imaging, and environmental control. We apply this system to two use cases: measuring characteristic changes in endothelium mechanics in response to inflammation, and studying the multiscale rheology of cellular aggregates.

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