Fei Liu

US Patent:

20110091922, Apr 21, 2011

Filed:

Aug 28, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/675882

Inventors:

Ramaswamy Krishnan - Cambridge MA, US
Chan Young Park - Cambridge MA, US
Jeffrey Fredberg - Sharon MA, US
Fei Liu - Warwick RI, US
Justin Mih - Mission Hill MA, US
Daniel Tschumperlin - Norfolk MA, US

International Classification:

C12Q 1/02
C12M 1/34

US Classification:

435 29, 4352887

Abstract:

Embodiments provide techniques for measuring and characterizing the dynamics of cell traction forces. Tunable elastic gel substrates can be disposed in multi-well plates. The gels can be of a uniform predetermined thickness. A multi-well plate can be loaded with gels of different shear moduli. An array of punch indenters can be attached to a loading platen such that the each indenter is aligned to a gel substrate. The indenters can apply tensile or compressive strains to the gel substrates. The magnitude, duration, and frequency of the strain can be controlled by a motor assembly coupled to a control system. The apparatus can be disposed in an incubator for long term cell culture experiments. The cell culture can be observed while a strain is applied. A ring-shaped indenter can be mounted on a microscope, coaxial to the objective lens, and lowered by a calibrated amount onto the underlying gel.

US Patent:

20110104798, May 5, 2011

Filed:

Aug 28, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/675839

Inventors:

Daniel Tschumperlin - Norfolk MA, US
Fei Liu - Warwick RI, US
Justin Mih - Mission Hill MA, US

International Classification:

C12N 5/071
C12M 3/00
C40B 60/00
B05D 3/00

US Classification:

435325, 4353052, 506 33, 427331

Abstract:

A multi-well plate can be loaded with a range of compliant substrates. Commerically-available assays can be used to test cellular responses across a plate with shear modulus from 50 to 51200 Pascals. Cells can be grown in the plates, and can be manipulated and analyzed. Hydrogels can be attached to the bottom of a well. The plates can support the attachment and growth of different cell types and can be compatible with standard 96-well and 384-well plate assays. The mechanical properties of the hydrogels can be reproducible and stable to increase the shelf life of the substrate. The hydrogel can be compatible with growth of a variety of cell types, various attachment ligands such as collagen I, collagen IV, fibronectin, vitronectin, laminin, or RGD peptides and can be coupled to the gel surface.