Stiffness Measurement of Soft Silicone Substrates for Mechanobiology Studies Using a Widefield Fluorescence Microscope

Yashar Bashirzadeh; Siddharth Chatterji; Dakota Palmer; Sandeep Dumbali; Shizhi Qian; Venkat Maruthamuthu

doi:10.3791/57797

Mesure de la rigidité des substrats souples en Silicone pour mécanobiologie études utilisant un M...

JoVE Journal
Bioengineering

A subscription to JoVE is required to view this content. Sign in or start your free trial.

JoVE Journal Bioengineering

Stiffness Measurement of Soft Silicone Substrates for Mechanobiology Studies Using a Widefield Fluorescence Microscope

Mesure de la rigidité des substrats souples en Silicone pour mécanobiologie études utilisant un Microscope à Fluorescence Widefield

Full Text

7,318 Views

07:02 min

July 3, 2018

DOI: 10.3791/57797-v

Yashar Bashirzadeh*¹, Siddharth Chatterji*¹, Dakota Palmer*², Sandeep Dumbali*¹, Shizhi Qian¹, Venkat Maruthamuthu¹

¹Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering,Old Dominion University, ²Department of Biological Sciences,Old Dominion University

Please note that some of the translations on this page are AI generated. Click here for the English version.

Overview

This article discusses a method to determine the Young's modulus of soft silicone gels using a widefield fluorescence microscope. The technique is applicable for studying cell responses to substrate stiffness in mechanobiology.

Key Study Components

Area of Science

Mechanobiology
Cell migration
Material science

Background

Substrates with stiffness in the kilopascal range are important for studying cellular responses.
Wide-field microscopes are commonly available in many laboratories.
Soft silicone and polyacrylamide gels are used for these studies.
The method allows for categorization of substrates based on their mechanical properties.

Purpose of Study

To measure the Young's modulus of soft silicone gels.
To provide a simple method for researchers to study mechanobiological phenomena.
To facilitate self-stretching experiments with silicone substrates.

Methods Used

Mixing components of a soft silicone elastomer kit.
Using a wide-field fluorescence microscope for measurements.
Indentation with a suitable sphere to determine Young's modulus.
Preparing substrates in Petri dishes for even spreading.

Main Results

The method effectively categorizes substrates based on stiffness.
Young's modulus can be accurately measured using the described technique.
Soft silicone substrates can be used for various mechanobiological experiments.
The technique is accessible due to the common availability of required equipment.

Conclusions

The described method is a valuable tool for mechanobiology research.
It allows for the study of cellular responses to substrate stiffness.
The technique can be adapted for various soft materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of substrate stiffness in cell studies?

Substrate stiffness influences cell behavior, migration, and differentiation, making it crucial for mechanobiology research.

Can this method be applied to other materials?

Yes, it can be used to measure the Young's modulus of various soft isotropic linear elastic materials.

What equipment is needed for this method?

A wide-field fluorescence microscope and basic lab equipment for mixing and preparing substrates are required.

How is the Young's modulus determined?

It is determined through indentation of the substrate with a suitable sphere and analyzing the resulting deformation.

What are the advantages of this technique?

The main advantage is its accessibility, as it uses commonly available laboratory equipment.

Is this method suitable for high-throughput studies?

While it can be adapted for multiple samples, the method is primarily designed for detailed analysis of individual substrates.

Substrats avec raideur dans la gamme kilopascal sont utiles pour étudier la réponse des cellules à physiologiquement pertinente micro-environnement rigidité. À l’aide d’un microscope à fluorescence widefield juste, le module de Young des gels de silicone souple peut être déterminé en utilisant une mise en retrait avec une sphère adaptée.

Cette méthode peut être utilisée pour catégoriser les substrats utilisés pour étudier les phénomènes clés de la mécanobiologie, de la migration cellulaire et de la première génération. Le principal avantage de cette technique est qu’elle nécessite l’utilisation d’un microscope à grand champ, un équipement couramment disponible dans de nombreux laboratoires. Cette méthode peut être appliquée pour mesurer le module de Young du gel de silicium ou de polyacrylamide, ainsi que de n’importe quel matériau élastique linéaire isotrope mou.

Le substrat préparé et caractérisé par cette méthode peut également être utilisé pour des expériences d’auto-étirement avec la base en silicone rigide. Pour fabriquer le substrat en silicone souple après avoir pesé environ 1,75 gramme chacun des composants A et B du kit d’élastomère de silicone souple, ajoutez la majeure partie de la partie pesée du composant A dans le plateau de pesée en polystyrène du composant B et utilisez un bâtonnet applicateur approprié pour mélanger les deux composants pendant cinq minutes. Transférez le mélange dans une boîte de Pétri de 35 millimètres et laissez le substrat s’étaler uniformément sur la boîte de Pétri pendant quelques minutes.

View the full transcript and gain access to thousands of scientific videos