Berlin 2015 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 33: Cell adhesion, mechanics and migration I (joint BP/CPP)

BP 33.4: Talk

Wednesday, March 18, 2015, 10:30–10:45, H 1058

Artificial tissue, Ultra-soft elastomers for cell mechanical investigation — •Viktor Heinrichs^{1, 2}, Sabine Dieluweit¹, Jörg Stellbrink², Rudolf Merkel¹, and Dieter Richter² — ¹ICS-7 Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany — ²ICS-1 Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany

Most animal cells are strongly influenced by the elasticity and topography of their environment. For clear-cut investigation of cellular mechanobiology elastic model substrates are required. These materials should be biocompatible, transparent, suitable for micro structure fabrication and their elasticity should be tuneable in a wide range. However, a Young's modulus of 1 kPa (ultra-soft, necessary to model, e.g., brain or glial tissues) is difficult to achieve [1, 2]. These challenges can be tackled with cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with the additional benefit of long shelf-life. We created a new PDMS material that meets all requirements in cell mechanics and examined it explicitly on viscoelastic properties with a strain controlled rheometer. The elasticity of the PDMS network was tuned via selection of the precursor polymers and their mixing ratio. Values as low as 1.5 kPa have been reliably achieved. First cell mechanical experiments on this novel material basis are underway. [1] C. M. Cesa, N. Kirchgeßner, D. Mayer, U. S. Schwarz, B. Hoffmann, R. Merkel. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 2007, 78, 034301. [2] D. T. Butcher, T. Alliston, V. M. Weaver, Nature Rev. Cancer 2009, 9, 108-122.