MechanoCulture TM

High surface area uniaxial stimulation of cell cultures on custom surfaces with real-time imaging.

The MechanoCulture TM uses a unique clamping system to form a flat bottom chamber from a thin membrane.
Cells adhered to this membrane can be stretched according to a user supplied protocol inside an incubator and/or while collecting images using an inverted microscope. A variety of membrane materials and coatings can be used to suit the particular application.

Key Features

• Uniaxial stretch of cells cultured on a user-selected flexible substrate
• Standard well plate size for compatibility with high-magnification imaging using an inverted microscope
• PC-independent operation
• User-friendly interface software for specifying simple, cyclic, and intermittent stimulation protocols for download to the device controller

Dimensions	30 X 9 X 8cm
Weight	1kg
Stimulation mode	Uniaxial tension
Configuration	Cell monolayer
Culture area	1 well, approx. 35mm X 45mm
Maximum strain	100%
Maximum Velocity	10mm/s
Maximum Cycle Frequency	2Hz
Loading capacity	30N
Media volume/well	appox. 20mL

Adhered Cell Monolayer Culture

Possible applications are studying the effect of mechanical stimulation on

• cell differentiation
• cell alignment
• gene expression
• production of extracellular matrix
• chemical signaling