Soft Polymer-Based Technique for Cellular Force Sensing
Soft polymers have emerged as a vital type of material adopted in biomedical engineering to perform various biomechanical characterisations such as sensing cellular forces. Distinct advantages of these materials used in cellular force sensing include maintaining normal functions of cells, resembling...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/16/2672 |
| _version_ | 1797522314180427776 |
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| author | Zhuonan Yu Kuo-Kang Liu |
| author_facet | Zhuonan Yu Kuo-Kang Liu |
| author_sort | Zhuonan Yu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soft polymers have emerged as a vital type of material adopted in biomedical engineering to perform various biomechanical characterisations such as sensing cellular forces. Distinct advantages of these materials used in cellular force sensing include maintaining normal functions of cells, resembling in vivo mechanical characteristics, and adapting to the customised functionality demanded in individual applications. A wide range of techniques has been developed with various designs and fabrication processes for the desired soft polymeric structures, as well as measurement methodologies in sensing cellular forces. This review highlights the merits and demerits of these soft polymer-based techniques for measuring cellular contraction force with emphasis on their quantitativeness and cell-friendliness. Moreover, how the viscoelastic properties of soft polymers influence the force measurement is addressed. More importantly, the future trends and advancements of soft polymer-based techniques, such as new designs and fabrication processes for cellular force sensing, are also addressed in this review. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:27:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bca9373ec3954921b36d0fc4a2302d1d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:27:38Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-bca9373ec3954921b36d0fc4a2302d1d2023-11-22T09:22:36ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602021-08-011316267210.3390/polym13162672Soft Polymer-Based Technique for Cellular Force SensingZhuonan Yu0Kuo-Kang Liu1School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UKSchool of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UKSoft polymers have emerged as a vital type of material adopted in biomedical engineering to perform various biomechanical characterisations such as sensing cellular forces. Distinct advantages of these materials used in cellular force sensing include maintaining normal functions of cells, resembling in vivo mechanical characteristics, and adapting to the customised functionality demanded in individual applications. A wide range of techniques has been developed with various designs and fabrication processes for the desired soft polymeric structures, as well as measurement methodologies in sensing cellular forces. This review highlights the merits and demerits of these soft polymer-based techniques for measuring cellular contraction force with emphasis on their quantitativeness and cell-friendliness. Moreover, how the viscoelastic properties of soft polymers influence the force measurement is addressed. More importantly, the future trends and advancements of soft polymer-based techniques, such as new designs and fabrication processes for cellular force sensing, are also addressed in this review.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/16/2672soft polymerhydrogelforce-sensingcellular biomechanicscell-friendly3D matrix |
| spellingShingle | Zhuonan Yu Kuo-Kang Liu Soft Polymer-Based Technique for Cellular Force Sensing Polymers soft polymer hydrogel force-sensing cellular biomechanics cell-friendly 3D matrix |
| title | Soft Polymer-Based Technique for Cellular Force Sensing |
| title_full | Soft Polymer-Based Technique for Cellular Force Sensing |
| title_fullStr | Soft Polymer-Based Technique for Cellular Force Sensing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Soft Polymer-Based Technique for Cellular Force Sensing |
| title_short | Soft Polymer-Based Technique for Cellular Force Sensing |
| title_sort | soft polymer based technique for cellular force sensing |
| topic | soft polymer hydrogel force-sensing cellular biomechanics cell-friendly 3D matrix |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/16/2672 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zhuonanyu softpolymerbasedtechniqueforcellularforcesensing AT kuokangliu softpolymerbasedtechniqueforcellularforcesensing |