SGER: Pilot Study for Bio-MEMS and Tissue Engineering

控制和操纵细胞的机械行为以改变基质产生的潜在作用是细胞生物学行为的一个令人兴奋的方面，它可能在组织工程中产生重大影响，即使用工程学和生物学方法的组合修复受损组织或产生新组织。然而，由于之前的技术限制，对整个细胞的机械行为的研究一直只是有限的性质。这项试点实验的目标是在生物力学、微电子机械系统(MEMS)和细胞生物学方面的一组研究人员之间开展合作，以启动新一类细胞测试设备的开发。MEMS技术是工程学的一个分支，专注于开发在微米级运行的机器。这种新的“Bio-MEMS”设备将能够表征单个活细胞在静态压缩载荷下的机械行为，并最终用于更复杂的载荷。这项工作意义重大，因为它将为此类设备的继续开发工作提供基础，为支持更大规模的进一步研究收集重要的初步数据，并将在一组对组织工程有共同兴趣的独特教职员工之间建立密切合作。

9820113KeavenyThe potential role of controlling and manipulating the mechanical behavior of cells in order to alter matrix production is an exciting aspect of cell biology behavior that may have substantial impact in tissue engineering, i.e. repair of damaged tissue or generation of new tissue using a combination of engineering and biological means. However, because of previous technological limitations, investigations of the mechanical behavior of whole cells have been of only a limited nature. The goal of this pilot experiment is to develop a collaboration between a group of investigators with expertise in biomechanics, Micro-Electro-Mechanical- Systems (MEMS), and cell biology, in order to initiate development of a new class of cell testing devices. MEMS technology is a branch of engineering that is focused on development of machines that operate at the scale of microns. This new "Bio-MEMS" device will enable characterization of the mechanical behavior of individual live cells, for static compressive loads, and ultimately, for more complex loading. This work is significant in that it will provide the basis for continued developmental work on such devices, collection of important preliminary data for support of further research on a larger scale, and will establish a close collaboration between an unique set of faculty with a common interest in tissue engineering.