2009-07-01
10:15 at HCI J 574

Single-cell scale mechanical studies of scaffolding and flowing biomaterials

Thierry Savin

Harvard

Cells such as fibroblasts can be assembled and organized into connective tissues. But other cells can present a high mobility in the body, as it is in the case of flowing blood cells. For these two types of scenario, I will present mechanical studies on corresponding bench models at the single-cell scale. First, a new system of self-assembling peptides forming a polymeric network, and thus mimicking the extra-cellular matrix that bonds cells into tissue, has been studied using particle tracking microrheology. Second, a unique micro-flow device has been used to track the pressure-driven motion of a single red blood cell in a capillary tube, hence describing blood flow in the microcirculation. I will present semi-quantitative models and I will show how, in both cases, the cell-scale results can be assessed from nano-scale events.