Reconstituted Tissue Mechanics

描述（逐字）：这项工作的长期目标是表征 生物组织中结构和机械功能的关系， 例如，在一个实施例中，结缔组织或肌肉。这些组织的模型是由 细胞和细胞外基质成分。模型组织提供简化的 在其中细胞和基质组成可以变化的系统中， 细胞和基质成分的组织可以通过显微镜观察， 细胞施加的收缩力和组织的硬度可以 容易测量。该项目的动机是假设， 构成细胞和基质的固有机械性能， 细胞之间以及细胞与基质之间的相互作用决定了 组织的机械特性，包括硬度和收缩力。 具体的目的是确定的力学的贡献， 细胞骨架和胶原基质的模型组织，以及 整合素介导的细胞与基质的相互作用， 钙粘蛋白介导的细胞之间的相互作用。的影响 这些结构对组织和机械的选择性扰动 将测量组织模型的特性。结果将 使用定量理论模型进行解释， 通过对模型的测量，可以推断出细胞和基质的性质 组织中这项工作提供了一个强大的和一般的方法来确定 细胞和基质的特定分子组分的机械功能。 除了了解分子功能的基本信息外， 工作为设计和力学评价提供了重要依据 用于临床应用的组织工程。

DESCRIPTION (VERBATIM): The long-range goal of this work is to characterize the relationship between structure and mechanical function in biological tissues, e.g., connective tissue or muscle. Models of these tissues are assembled from cells and extracellular matrix components. The model tissues provide simplified systems in which the cellular and matrix composition can be varied, the organization of cell and matrix components can be visualized by microscopy, and the contractile force exerted by the cells and the stiffness of the tissue can be readily measured. The project is motivated by the hypothesis that the intrinsic mechanical properties of the constituent cells and of the matrix and the interactions of cells with each other and with the matrix determine the mechanical properties of the tissue, including stiffness and contractile force. The specific aims are to determine the contributions to the mechanics of the model tissues of the cellular cytoskeletons and the collagen matrix, and of integrin-mediated interactions of the cells with the matrix and of cadherin-mediated interactions of the cells with each other. The effects of selective perturbation of these structures on the organization and mechanical properties of the tissue models will be measured. The results will be interpreted using a quantitative theoretical model by which the mechanical properties of cells and matrix can be deduced from the measurements on model tissues. This work provides a powerful and general approach to determining the mechanical functions of specific molecular components of the cells and matrix. In addition to the basic information learned about molecular function, this work provides an important foundation for the design and mechanical evaluation of tissues engineered for clinical applications.