MINIATURIZED CELL MECHANICAL STIMULATOR WITH CONTROLLED STRAIN GRADIENT FOR CELLULAR MECHANOBIOLGICAL STUDY

摘要

A polymer-based microdevice that can deliver mechanical strain with controllable strain gradient to in vitro cultured cells is presented. The polymer membrane with varying thickness is fabricated using a modified double-side replica molding process. Bi-axial strain is generated on the top surface of the membrane by applying differential hydraulic pressure on the membrane. The strain profile is analyzed numerically and experimentally. The results indicate that the strain gradient can be controlled by changing the thickness profile of the polymer membrane. The goal of this work is to provide an on-chip tool for quantitative intercellular mechanotransduction study to examine the influence of strain gradient on cellular behaviors.