Microfluidics as a functional tool for cell mechanics

摘要: Living cells are a fascinating demonstration of nature’s most intricate and well-coordinated micromechanical objects. They crawl, spread, contract, relax—thus performing multitude complex mechanical functions. Alternatively, they also respond to physical chemical cues that lead remodeling the cytoskeleton. To understand this coupling between properties, function force-induced biochemical signaling requires tools capable both controlling manipulating cell microenvironment measuring resulting response. In review, power microfluidics as functional tool for research in mechanics is highlighted. particular, current literature discussed show powered by soft lithographic techniques offers following capabilities significance understanding behavior cells: (i) Microfluidics enables creation vitro models physiological environments which can be probed. (ii) an excellent means deliver affect mechanics, such shape, fluid flow, substrate topography, stiffness. (iii) expose cues, growth factors drugs, alter their behavior. Moreover, these delivered either at whole or subcellular level. (iv) Microfluidic devices offer possibility intrinsic properties high throughput fashion. (v) Finally, microfluidic methods provide exquisite control over drop size, generation, manipulation. As result, droplets being increasingly used physicochemical environment biomimetic analogs living cells. These powerful attributes should further stimulate novel investigating link biomechanical response Insights from studies will have implications areas drug delivery, medicine, tissue engineering, biomedical diagnostics.