Mechanical and functional responses in astrocytes under alternating deformation modes using magneto-active substrates
Author(s)
Gomez-Cruz, Clara
Fernandez-de la Torre, Miguel
Lachowski, Dariusz
Prados-de-Haro, Martin
Del Río Hernández, Armando E
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This work introduces NeoMag, a system designed to enhance cell mechanics assays in substrate deformation studies. NeoMag uses multidomain magneto-active materials to mechanically actuate the substrate, transmitting reversible mechanical cues to cells. The system boasts full flexibility in alternating loading substrate deformation modes, seamlessly adapting to both upright and inverted microscopes. The multidomain substrates facilitate mechanobiology assays on 2D and 3D cultures. The integration of the system with nanoindenters allows for precise evaluation of cellular mechanical properties under varying substrate deformation modes. The system is used to study the impact of substrate deformation on astrocytes, simulating mechanical conditions akin to traumatic brain injury and ischemic stroke. The results reveal local heterogeneous changes in astrocyte stiffness, influenced by the orientation of subcellular regions relative to substrate strain. These stiffness variations, exceeding 50% in stiffening and softening, and local deformations significantly alter calcium dynamics. Furthermore, sustained deformations induce actin network reorganization and activate Piezo1 channels, leading to an initial increase followed by a long-term inhibition of calcium events. Conversely, fast and dynamic deformations transiently activate Piezo1 channels and disrupt the actin network, causing long-term cell softening. These findings unveil mechanical and functional alterations in astrocytes during substrate deformation, illustrating the multiple opportunities this technology offers.
Date Issued
2024-06
Date Acceptance
2024-03-21
Citation
Advanced Materials, 2024, 36 (26)
ISSN
0935-9648
Publisher
Wiley
Journal / Book Title
Advanced Materials
Volume
36
Issue
26
Copyright Statement
© 2024 The Authors. Advanced Materials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38610101
Subjects
astrocytes
brain mechanics
magnetorheological elastomers
mechanobiology
piezo1
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
Germany
Article Number
2312497
Date Publish Online
2024-04-12