3D Traction Force Microscopy in Biological Gels: From Single Cells to Multicellular Spheroids.

Cell traction force plays a critical role in directing cellular functions, such as proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Current understanding of cell traction force is largely derived from 2D measurements where cells are plated on 2D substrates. However, 2D measurements do not recapitulate a vital aspect of living systems; that is, cells actively remodel their surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM), and the remodeled ECM, in return, can have a profound impact on cell phenotype and traction force generation.

Emulating clinical pressure waveforms in cell culture using an Arduino-controlled millifluidic 3D-printed platform for 96-well plates.

High blood pressure is the primary risk factor for heart disease, the leading cause of death globally. Despite this, current methods to replicate physiological pressures remain limited in sophistication and throughput. Single-chamber exposure systems allow for only one pressure condition to be studied at a time and the application of dynamic pressure waveforms is currently limited to simple sine, triangular, or square waves.