Dresden 2020 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 38: Focus: Biological Cells in Microfluidics II
BP 38.3: Talk
Friday, March 20, 2020, 10:15–10:30, HÜL 386
Hydrogel-based cell mimics and applications — •Salvatore Girardo1, Ruchi Goswami1, Nicole Träber2,3, Anna Taubenberger2, Katrin Wagner2, and Jochen Guck1 — 1MPL,Erlangen,Germany — 2Biotec,Dresden,Germany — 3IPF,Dresden,Germany
In recent decades it has become increasingly obvious that cell mechanical properties can be used to monitor physiological and pathological changes in cells. It has been reported that mechanical properties measured by using different techniques on the same cell type span a wide range of values, making hard the comparison of the obtained results. Therefore, a mechanical standard is needed to validate and calibrate mechanical measurements. Furthermore, quantification of stresses exerted and experienced by cells at the cell-scale level in in vivo and in vitro systems is fundamental to improve the understanding of the role of mechanics in biology and medicine. This quantification is still a challenge due to the lack of the availability of appropriate measurement tools. All these aspects can be addressed by using elastic, compressible and homogeneous spheres whose shape, size, mechanical properties and functionalization with specific adhesion sites are well established before use. Here we illustrate the production, characterization and functionalization of standardized microgel beads covering all these features. We demonstrate that these beads can be used as mechanical standards, as cell-scale stress sensors able to sense forces through their deformation and as building blocks of novel 3D scaffolds to investigate mechanosensing.