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Initial studies of mechanical compression on neurogenesis with neonatal neural stem cells

  • Leyla Esfandiari, MS

      Affiliations

    • Biomedical Engineering Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • ,
  • Michelle Paff, MS

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • ,
  • William C. Tang, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
    • Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author: Henry Samueli School of Engineering, 5200 Engineering Hall, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-2700, USA.

Received 16 July 2011; accepted 11 January 2012. published online 27 January 2012.
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Abstract 

In this article we demonstrate the effect of mechanical compression on the behavior of cultured neural stem cells using a microelectromechanical system platform. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based stretchable substrates were used on a neurosphere (NS) assay to investigate the role of mechanical forces on the formation of radial glial processes and neuronal migration. To induce mechanical compression on NS, the PDMS culturing substrate was patterned with micron-sized wells. NS were cultured on the prestretched device. After 48 hours, when the NS had grown to the size of the well's width, the stretched substrate was released. The experimental results showed that applied mechanical compression on neural stem cells could be a factor accelerating the radial glial formation, which is associated with neurogenesis and neuronal migration.

Graphical Abstract 

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based stretchable platforms were used on neurosphere (NS) assay to investigate the role of mechanical forces on the formation of radial glial processes and neuronal migration. To induce mechanical compression on NS, the PDMS culturing substrate was patterned with micron-sized wells. NS were cultured on the prestretched device. After 48 hours, when the NS had grown to the size of the well’s width, the stretched substrate was released. The experimental results showed that applied mechanical compression on neural stem cells could be a factor accelerating the radial glial formation, which is associated with neurogenesis and neuronal migration.

Key words: Neurogenesis, Mechanotransduction, Microfabrication

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 Source of support: University of California, Irvine, Multi-Investigator Faculty Research Grant.

PII: S1549-9634(12)00008-1

doi:10.1016/j.nano.2012.01.001

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