Cyclic uniaxial cell stretching in tissue culture using a LEGO®-based mechanical stretcher and a polydimethylsiloxane stretchable vessel

• Published in: STAR protocols Vol. 2; no. 2; p. 100437
• Main Authors: Boulter, Etienne, Féral, Chloé C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 18.06.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biomechanical Phenomena - physiology; Biophysics; Cell Biology; Cell Culture Techniques - instrumentation; Cell Culture Techniques - methods; Cells, Cultured - cytology; Cells, Cultured - physiology; Dimethylpolysiloxanes - chemistry; Equipment Design; Fibroblasts - cytology; Fibroblasts - physiology; HeLa Cells; Humans; Protocol; Stress, Mechanical; Tissue Culture Techniques - instrumentation; Tissue Culture Techniques - methods; Biophysics; Cell Biology
• ISSN: 2666-1667; 2666-1667
• DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100437

Mechanical signals are essential for the regulation of many biological processes. Therefore, it has become paramount to account for these mechanical parameters when exploring biological processes. Here, we describe a protocol to apply cyclic uniaxial stretch on cells in culture using a LEGO®-based mechanical stretcher and a flexible custom-made polydimethylsiloxane culture vessel as well as validated downstream applications. While this system offers an out-of-the-box limited type of simulation, it provides a reliable and low-cost opportunity to perform cell stretching. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Boulter et al. (2020). [Display omitted] •Protocol to grow cells on a user-generated PDMS vessel•Application of cyclic uniaxial stretch using a LEGO®-based mechanical stretcher•Downstream applications range from fixed cell imaging to protein extraction Mechanical signals are essential for the regulation of many biological processes. Therefore, it has become paramount to account for these mechanical parameters when exploring biological processes. Here, we describe a protocol to apply cyclic uniaxial stretch on cells in culture using a LEGO®-based mechanical stretcher and a flexible custom-made polydimethylsiloxane culture vessel as well as validated downstream applications. While this system offers an out-of-the-box limited type of simulation, it provides a reliable and low-cost opportunity to perform cell stretching.