Assembly of skeletal muscle cells on a Si-MEMS device and their generative force measurement.

We have fabricated a simple Si-MEMS device consisting of a microcantilever and a base to measure active tension generated by skeletal muscle myotubes derived from murine myoblast cell line C2C12. We have developed a fabrication process for integration of myotubes onto the device. To position myotubes over the gap between the cantilever and the base without damage due to mechanical peeling or the use of an enzymatic reaction, we cultured myotubes on poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAAm) as a sacrifice layer.

Quantification of structural properties of cell-sized individual liposomes by flow cytometry.

We describe a new high-throughput method of quantifying the structural properties of individual cell-sized liposomes. An internal aqueous solution of liposomes was labeled with a green fluorescent marker and the membrane with a red marker. The double-labeled liposomes were analyzed using flow cytometry, and the internal aqueous volume and lipid membrane volume of each liposome were measured.