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High-throughput measurements of hydrogel tissue construct mechanics
Juan Pablo Marquez1, Wesley Legant, Vy Lam
1Department of Physiology, and Biotechnology and Bioengineering Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA.
Tissue Engineering. Part C, Methods
|February 7, 2009
Summary
Researchers developed a new system to measure engineered tissue mechanics, enabling high-throughput screening for drugs that modify tissue properties and potentially treat diseases like cardiac fibrosis.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Biophysics
Background:
- Cellular interactions with the extracellular matrix are crucial for cell physiology and tissue mechanics.
- Dysregulation of these interactions can lead to diseases such as cardiac fibrosis and atherosclerosis.
- Studying cell physiology and function within engineered tissues requires robust characterization methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel system for producing and characterizing the mechanical properties of hydrogel tissue constructs (HTCs).
- To quantify cellular contractility (pretension) within HTCs using a robotic indentation system.
- To demonstrate the system's utility in high-throughput screening for compounds affecting tissue mechanics.
Main Methods:
- Hydrogel tissue constructs (HTCs) were produced in custom chambers.
- A robotic system was employed to indent HTCs and measure resultant forces.
- Force measurements were used to calculate HTC pretension, reflecting cellular contractility.
- HTCs were treated with varying concentrations of cytochalasin D and fetal bovine serum to assess mechanical responses.
Main Results:
- Cytochalasin D reduced HTC pretension in a dose-dependent manner, with a 10-fold decrease at 2µM.
- Fetal bovine serum increased HTC pretension approximately threefold.
- The system demonstrated excellent repeatability and precision, with a coefficient of variation between 7% and 15% (n=4).
- The small size of HTCs (4x4x0.8mm) supports high-throughput applications.
Conclusions:
- The developed system effectively characterizes engineered tissue mechanics and cellular contractility.
- This platform is suitable for high-throughput screening of chemical libraries to identify modulators of tissue mechanics.
- The findings have implications for developing new therapeutic strategies for diseases involving tissue fibrosis and altered mechanics.
