A miniature mechanical testing device for testing hydrogel-based biomaterials in a confocal microscope.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cellular Mechanics
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Cardiac muscle cells (myocytes) are crucial for heart function, but their mechanical properties are poorly understood.
• Existing methods for measuring myocyte mechanical properties are limited by cell fragility and low throughput.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel device for the manipulation and mechanical testing of hydrogel-embedded cardiac muscle cells.
• To enable high-throughput assessment of cardiac cell mechanics for research and drug development.

Main Methods:

• A custom, microscope-slide-sized device with an interchangeable flexure was designed for mechanical testing.
• Cardiac muscle cells were embedded in gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels.
• The device facilitated simultaneous mechanical testing and 3D imaging using confocal microscopy.

Main Results:

• The device demonstrated potential for high-throughput testing of cell-gel constructs.
• The Young's modulus of the GelMA hydrogel was measured to be 33 kPa.
• The system allows for in-situ mechanical testing and imaging of embedded cells.

Conclusions:

• The developed device offers a novel approach for studying cardiac cell mechanics with high throughput.
• This technology can accelerate the development of treatments for cardiac diseases by enabling rapid screening of pharmacological interventions.
• The methodology may be adaptable for mechanical testing of other delicate biological tissues embedded in hydrogels.