XUELING HE, LINLU JIN, YIXUE QIN, JIAN ZHONG, ZHI OUYANG, YE ZENG^*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.11, pp. 1521-1529, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.055410 - 07 November 2024

Abstract Cellular biomechanical features contributed to the occurrence and development of various physiological and pathological phenomena. Micropillar arrays have emerged as an important tool for both the assessment and manipulation of cellular biomechanical characteristics. This comprehensive review provides an in-depth understanding of the fabrication methodologies of micropillar arrays and their applications in deciphering and fine-tuning cellular biomechanical properties and the innovative experimental platforms including organ-on-a-chip and organoids-on-a-chip. This review provides novel insights into the potential of micropillar technology, poised to update the landscape of stem cell research and tissue engineering. More >

Ke Ni¹, Zhengzhi Wang^1,2,3,*

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.25, No.4, pp. 1-2, 2023, DOI:10.32604/icces.2023.09248

Abstract Stimuli-responsive micropillar structures that can perform dynamics and reversible deformations according to external stimuli have been applied in a wide spectrum of fields, including object manipulation, soft miniature robots, and functional surfaces. However, it remains a challenge to exhibit programmable actuation behaviors for applications that require on-demand deformation response. Herein, a two-step photomask-assisted template casting technique is developed to fabricate a hybrid magnetic micropillar array for programmable actuation. By modulating the spatial distribution of the magnetic nanoparticles within the elastomer micropillars, the bending deformations of the micropillars with different particle distributions can vary near one… More >

Rachele Allena^1,*, Denis Aubry²

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.19, No.1, pp. 1-16, 2022, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2022.018958 - 12 January 2022

Abstract Cells adapt to their environment and stimuli of different origin. During confined migration through sub-cellular and sub-nuclear pores, they can undergo large strains and the nucleus, the most voluminous and the stiffest organelle, plays a critical role. Recently, patterned microfluidic devices have been employed to analyze the cell mechanical behavior and the nucleus self-deformations. In this paper, we present an in silico model to simulate the interactions between the cell and the underneath microstructured substrate under the effect of the sole gravity. The model lays on mechanical features only and it has the potential to assess… More >