Monitoring the biomechanical response of individual cells under compression : a new compression device

Skeletal muscle cells are sensitive to sustained compression, which can lead to the development of pressure sores. Although it is known that this type of tissue breakdown depends on the magnitude and duration of the applied load, the exact relationship between cell deformation and damage remains unclear. To gain more insight into this process, a method has been developed, that incorporates the use of a new loading device and confocal microscopy. The loading device is able to compress individual cells, either statically or dynamically, while measuring the resulting forces. Experiments can be performed under ideal environmental conditions, comparable with those of a C02 incubator. First compression experiments on C2C72 mouse myoblasts showed the shape changes that cells undergo during static compression by the loading device. Calculations using the three-dimensional confocal images showed no change in volume and an increase in the surface area of the cell as a result of compression. The device presented here provides a useful way to monitor the biomechanical response of skeletal muscle cells during long-term compression experiments. Therefore it will contribute to the knowledge about straininduced cell damage, as seen in pressure sores and other mechanically induced clinical conditions

Monitoring the biomechanical response of individual cells under compression : a new compression device

Skeletal muscle cells are sensitive to sustained compression, which can lead to the development of pressure sores. Although it is known that this type of tissue breakdown depends on the magnitude and duration of the applied load, the exact relationship between cell deformation and damage remains unclear. To gain more insight into this process, a method has been developed, that incorporates the use of a new loading device and confocal microscopy. The loading device is able to compress individual cells, either statically or dynamically, while measuring the resulting forces. Experiments can be performed under ideal environmental conditions, comparable with those of a C02 incubator. First compression experiments on C2C72 mouse myoblasts showed the shape changes that cells undergo during static compression by the loading device. Calculations using the three-dimensional confocal images showed no change in volume and an increase in the surface area of the cell as a result of compression. The device presented here provides a useful way to monitor the biomechanical response of skeletal muscle cells during long-term compression experiments. Therefore it will contribute to the knowledge about straininduced cell damage, as seen in pressure sores and other mechanically induced clinical conditions

Monitoring the biomechanical response of individual cells under compression : a new compression device

Skeletal muscle cells are sensitive to sustained compression, which can lead to the development of pressure sores. Although it is known that this type of tissue breakdown depends on the magnitude and duration of the applied load, the exact relationship between cell deformation and damage remains unclear. To gain more insight into this process, a method has been developed, that incorporates the use of a new loading device and confocal microscopy. The loading device is able to compress individual cells, either statically or dynamically, while measuring the resulting forces. Experiments can be performed under ideal environmental conditions, comparable with those of a C02 incubator. First compression experiments on C2C72 mouse myoblasts showed the shape changes that cells undergo during static compression by the loading device. Calculations using the three-dimensional confocal images showed no change in volume and an increase in the surface area of the cell as a result of compression. The device presented here provides a useful way to monitor the biomechanical response of skeletal muscle cells during long-term compression experiments. Therefore it will contribute to the knowledge about straininduced cell damage, as seen in pressure sores and other mechanically induced clinical conditions

In vitro models to study compressive strain-induced muscle cell damage

Skeletal muscle tissue is highly susceptible to sustained compressive straining, eventually leading to tissue breakdown in the form of pressure sores. This breakdown begins at the cellular level and is believed to be triggered by sustained cell deformation. To study the relationship between compressive strain-induced muscle cell deformation and damage, and to investigate the role of cell-cell interactions, cell-matrix interactions and tissue geometry in this process, in vitro models of single cells, monolayers and 3D tissue analogs under compression are being developed. Compression is induced using specially designed loading devices, while cell deformation is visualised with confocal microscopy. Cell damage is assessed from viability tests, vital microscopy and histological or biochemical analyses. Preliminary results from a 3D cell seeded agarose model indicate that cell deformation is indeed an important trigger for cell damage; sustained compression of the model at 20% strain results in a significant increase in cell damage with time of compression, whereas damage in unstrained controls remains constant over time