Abstract
The ability to characterize the microscale mechanical properties of biological materials has the potential for great utility in the field of tissue engineering. The development and morphogenesis of mammalian tissues are known to be guided in part by mechanical stimuli received from the local environment, and tissues frequently develop to match the physical characteristics (i.e., elasticity) of their environment. Quantification of these material properties at the microscale may provide valuable information to guide researchers. Presented here is a microfluidic platform for the non-destructive ex vivo microscale mechanical characterization of mammalian tissue samples by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The device was designed to physically hold a tissue sample in a dynamically controllable fluid environment while allowing access by an AFM probe operating in force spectroscopy mode to perform mechanical testing. Results of measurements performed on mouse submandibular gland samples demonstrate the ability of the analysis platform to quantify sample elasticity at the microscale, and observe chemically-induced changes in elasticity.
Highlights
Xerostomia, commonly known as “dry-mouth”, is the subjective feeling of oral dryness that is commonly associated with hyposalivation [1]
Reported here are elastic moduli recoded from randomly located spot measurements performed on both adult SMG and embryonic day 13 (E13) samples (3 spots each)
Presented here is a microfluidic flowcell device for the non-destructive fixation of mammalian tissue samples, which when integrated into an atomic force microscopy (AFM) enables the microscale quantification of sample mechanical properties within a dynamically controllable fluid environment
Summary
Xerostomia, commonly known as “dry-mouth”, is the subjective feeling of oral dryness that is commonly associated with hyposalivation [1]. It is a diagnosed medical condition frequently presented as the unintended side effect of certain medications or radiation therapies. It is a symptom of an autoimmune disease known as Sjögren’s syndrome, while in other cases the exact cause is unknown [2]. The largest salivary glands present in mammals are the parotid, the submandibular (SMG), and the sublingual glands They exist in pairs and are responsible for the majority of saliva production
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