5 research outputs found
An approach to quantifying 3D responses of cells to extreme strain
The tissues of hollow organs can routinely stretch up to 2.5 times their length. Although significant pathology can arise if relatively large stretches are sustained, the responses of cells are not known at these levels of sustained strain. A key challenge is presenting cells with a realistic and well-defined three-dimensional (3D) culture environment that can sustain such strains. Here, we describe an in vitro system called microscale, magnetically-actuated synthetic tissues (micro-MASTs) to quantify these responses for cells within a 3D hydrogel matrix. Cellular strain-threshold and saturation behaviors were observed in hydrogel matrix, including strain-dependent proliferation, spreading, polarization, and differentiation, and matrix adhesion retained at strains sufficient for apoptosis. More broadly, the system shows promise for defining and controlling the effects of mechanical environment upon a broad range of cells
Research on the Surface Fractal Characteristic of the Rock with Rockburst Proneness
In order to strengthen the prediction of rockburst and inquire the relationship between the rockburst proneness of rock and its surface fractal characteristic, the surface fractal of the rock was studied by fractal method and uniaxial compression test. The change rules of surface fractal of different types of rock were compared by calculating its fractal dimension of rock before experiment and after experiment. Based on the prediction results, we found that the dimension after test is bigger than before test for four kinds of rocks. The rock with stronger rockburst proneness has more intense failure in the loading process and its crack morphology is more complex
DualâScale Spiral Material for Balancing High Load Bearing and Sound Absorption
Abstract Porous materials with sound absorption and loadâbearing capabilities are in demand in engineering fields like aviation and rail transportation. However, achieving both properties simultaneously is challenging due to the tradeâoff between interconnected pores for sound absorption and mechanical strength. Inspired by quilling art, a novel design using spiral material formed by rolling planar materials into helical structures is proposed. Experimental results show high structural strength through selfâlocking mechanisms, while double porosities from interlayer spiral slits and aligned submillimeter pores provide excellent sound absorption. These spiral sheets surpass foam aluminum in specific strength (up to 5.1Â MPa) and approach aerogels in sound absorption (average coefficient of 0.93 within 0â6400Â Hz). With its adaptability to various planar materials, this spiral design allows for hybrid combinations of different materials for multiâfunctionality, paving the way for designing advanced, lightweight porous materials for broad applications
Patterning Cellular Alignment through Stretching Hydrogels with Programmable Strain Gradients
The graded mechanical properties
(e.g., stiffness and stress/strain)
of excellular matrix play an important role in guiding cellular alignment,
as vital in tissue <i>reconstruction with proper functions</i>. Though various methods have been developed to engineer a graded
mechanical environment to study its effect on cellular behaviors,
most of them failed to distinguish stiffness effect from stress/strain
effect during mechanical loading. Here, we construct a mechanical
environment with programmable strain gradients by using a hydrogel
of a linear elastic property. When seeding cells on such hydrogels,
we demonstrate that the pattern of cellular alignment can be rather
precisely tailored by substrate strains. The experiment is in consistency
with a theoritical prediction when assuming that focal adhesions (FAs)
would drive a cell to reorient to the directions where they are most
stable. A fundamental theory has also been developed and is excellent
in agreement with the complete temporal alignment of cells. This work
not only provides important insights into the cellular response to
the local mechanical microenvironment but can also be utilized to
engineer patterned cellular alignment that can be critical in tissue
remodeling and regenerative medicine applications