Control of cell functions by mechanical stimulation of cell nuclei

本研究旨在阐明细胞分化过程中细胞核内机械环境的变化，建立一种直接对细胞核内施加机械刺激的方法。我们发现肌动蛋白细胞骨架丝在细胞分化过程中，在细胞内的三维力平衡中起着至关重要的作用，它控制着细胞核的三维形态。我们还开发了一种由有机硅弹性体（聚二甲基硅氧烷：PDMS）制成的磁性微柱阵列衬底。我们成功地将铁颗粒嵌入到微柱中，并控制了它们在衬底中的位置。外加磁场对柱中的粒子产生作用力，并将外力传递给细胞核。该技术可用于细胞核的直接机械刺激。

The purpose of this study is to elucidate the changes in the mechanical environment of cell nuclei during cell differentiation, and to establish a method to apply mechanical stimuli to intracellular nucleus directly. We found that actin cytoskeletal filaments have crucial roles in the intracellular force balance three dimensionally during cell differentiation, which control the three dimensional morphology of nucleus. We also developed a magnetic micropillar array substrate made of silicone elastomer(poly(dimethylsiloxane): PDMS). We successfully embedded iron particles into the micropillars and controlled their location in the substrate. Application of external magnetic field creates forces on the particles in the pillars, and an external force can be transferred to nuclei of cells. This technique can be utilized for direct mechanical stimulation of cell nuclei.