Living cells and tissues experience mechanical forces in their physiological environments that are known to affect many cellular processes. Also of importance are the mechanical properties of cells, as well as the microforces generated by cellular processes in their microenvironments. The difficulty associated with studying these phenomena in vivo has led to alternatives such as using in vitro models. The need for experimental techniques for investigating cellular biomechanics and mechanobiology in vitro has fueled an evolution in the technology used in these studies. Particularly noteworthy are some of the new biomicroelectromechanical systems (BioMEMs) devices and techniques.
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This study describes cellular micromechanical techniques and methods that have been developed for extit{in vitro} studies. Improvements made to a passive array of vertical microcantilevers, for detecting cellular microforces and studying in vitro cell mechanics are presented. A new technique that uses poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a lift-off agent to attach structures to the microcantilevers, thereby providing a means to actively move the microcantilevers is introduced. The use of the improved microcantilever array platform as a potential assay for cardiac myofibrillogenesis will also be described.
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Finally the use of cryogenic etching techniques for making master molds for the microcantilever arrays is described, and subsequent arrays are used to investigate the biological responses of mesenchymal stem cells to forces generated by post deflections.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VANDERBILT/oai:VANDERBILTETD:etd-08182008-153315 |
| Date | 18 August 2008 |
| Creators | Addae-Mensah, Kweku Amissah |
| Contributors | Kevin K. Parker, Franz J. Baudenbacher, Paul E. Moore, Michael I. Miga, John P. Wikswo |
| Publisher | VANDERBILT |
| Source Sets | Vanderbilt University Theses |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu//available/etd-08182008-153315/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to Vanderbilt University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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