Cellular Mechanosensitivity: Validation of an Adaptable 3D-Printed Device for Microindentation

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Biophysics
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Mechanotransduction is the cellular process of converting mechanical stimuli into biochemical signals, crucial for physiology and homeostasis.
• Mechanosensitive ion channels (MSCs), particularly Piezo1 and Piezo2, are key mediators of this process.
• Existing assays for mechanosensitivity are often costly or unreliable, hindering research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an affordable and reliable open-hardware assay for measuring cellular mechanotransduction.
• To provide a versatile platform for stimulating single cells and observing downstream effects of MSCs.
• To advance the understanding of Piezo channel function in cellular responses.

Main Methods:

• Designed and validated a 3D-printed actuation platform for controlled microindentation of single adherent cells.
• Utilized genetic and pharmacological manipulation of Piezo1 expression and activity in a neural cell line.
• Measured cellular responses to mechanical stimuli to assess mechanosensitivity.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated the device's capability to measure Piezo1-mediated mechanosensitivity in a mouse neural cell line.
• Validated the assay's reliability through genetic and pharmacological interventions.
• The open-hardware approach proved effective in quantifying cellular responses to mechanical force.

Conclusions:

• The developed microindentation device offers an accessible and versatile tool for studying mechanotransduction.
• This technology can be integrated with various readout systems, enhancing the study of MSCs.
• The findings provide a new avenue for investigating cellular mechanobiology and its role in health and disease.