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Controlled Strain of 3D Hydrogels under Live Microscopy Imaging
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Straining 3D Hydrogels with Uniform Z-Axis Strains While Enabling Live Microscopy Imaging.

Avishy Roitblat Riba1, Sari Natan1, Avraham Kolel1

  • 1School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.

Annals of Biomedical Engineering
|December 6, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed a novel 3D stretcher for studying how external forces affect tissues. This cost-effective device enables live imaging of 3D hydrogels, providing homogenous strain for better tissue engineering research.

Keywords:
Cell mechanicsExternal stretchingExtracellular matrixFiber alignmentFibrous networkHydrogelMechanical forceMechanobiology

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Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Tissue Engineering
  • Mechanobiology

Background:

  • External forces are crucial for tissue development and regulation.
  • Existing 2D stretching devices are abundant, but 3D stretching devices, especially for live imaging, are limited.
  • Studying cellular responses in 3D under mechanical stress requires advanced stretching systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a novel, cost-efficient method and device for stretching 3D hydrogels.
  • To enable live imaging during mechanical stimulation of 3D biological samples.
  • To investigate the homogenous strain distribution in 3D hydrogels under tensile force.

Main Methods:

  • Designed and constructed a novel stretching device using 3D-printed parts and low-cost electronics.
  • Utilized a punctured elastic silicone strip as a sample carrier for 3D hydrogels.
  • Performed live confocal imaging of >100 μm thick fibrin gels during stretching ( <1 KPa).

Main Results:

  • Achieved homogenous strain distribution throughout the thickness (Z axis) of the 3D hydrogels.
  • Demonstrated successful live confocal imaging during the stretching process.
  • The novel approach contrasts with previous methods relying on underlying elastic substrates for strain application.

Conclusions:

  • The developed 3D stretcher is simple, cost-efficient, and reproducible.
  • This system advances the study of external forces in 3D biological systems under more physiological conditions.
  • The findings contribute to the field of tissue engineering by improving mechanical stimulation techniques.