High Throughput Screening of Cell Mechanical Response Using a Stretchable 3D Cellular Microarray Platform. Issue 30 (26th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sakthivel, Kabilan; Kumar, Hitendra; Mohamed, Mohamed G. A.; Talebjedi, Bahram; Shim, Justin; Najjaran, Homayoun; Hoorfar, Mina; Kim, Keekyoung
• Is Part Of: Small. Volume 16:Issue 30(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-06-26
• Subjects: 3D cell microarrays -- bioprinting -- cell‐laden gelatin methacrylate -- cell mechanical stimulation -- high throughput analyses; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanoparticles -- Periodicals; Microtechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202000941
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-6810

Abstract

Abstract: Cells in vivo are constantly subjected to multiple microenvironmental mechanical stimuli that regulate cell function. Although 2D cell responses to the mechanical stimulation have been established, these methods lack relevance as physiological cell microenvironments are in 3D. Moreover, the existing platforms developed for studying the cell responses to mechanical cues in 3D either offer low‐throughput, involve complex fabrication, or do not allow combinatorial analysis of multiple cues. Considering this, a stretchable high‐throughput (HT) 3D cell microarray platform is presented that can apply dynamic mechanical strain to cells encapsulated in arrayed 3D microgels. The platform uses inkjet‐bioprinting technique for printing cell‐laden gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) microgel array on an elastic composite substrate that is periodically stretched. The developed platform is highly biocompatible and transfers the applied strain from the stretched substrate to the cells. The HT analysis is conducted to analyze cell mechano‐responses throughout the printed microgel array. Also, the combinatorial analysis of distinct cell behaviors is conducted for different GelMA microenvironmental stiffnesses in addition to the dynamic stretch. Considering its throughput and flexibility, the developed platform can readily be scaled up to introduce a wide range of microenvironmental cues and to screen the cell responses in a HT way. Abstract : A high‐throughput platform composed of an elastic composite substrate bioprinted with a 3D cell‐laden microgel array is developed to apply dynamic strain to the cells. The combinatorial cell analysis, by introducing different microgel stiffnesses, in addition to dynamic strain shows discrete cell responses suggesting that the platform could be a promising solution for screening multiple biomaterial parameters for tissue regeneration.