PUBLICATION

In vivo tissue has non-linear rheological behavior distinct from 3D biomimetic hydrogels, as determined by AMOTIV microscopy

Authors
Blehm, B.H., Devine, A., Staunton, J.R., Tanner, K.
ID
ZDB-PUB-160117-1
Date
2016
Source
Biomaterials   83: 66-78 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
Biomaterials, Hydrogels, Microrheology, Optical traps, Tissue mechanics, Zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Biomimetic Materials/pharmacology*
  • Calibration
  • Elasticity
  • Extracellular Matrix/drug effects
  • Extracellular Matrix/metabolism
  • Hydrogels/pharmacology*
  • Microscopy/methods*
  • Nonlinear Dynamics*
  • Optical Tweezers*
  • Rheology/drug effects*
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Viscosity
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
26773661 Full text @ Biomaterials
Abstract
Variation in matrix elasticity has been shown to determine cell fate in both differentiation and development of malignant phenotype. The tissue microenvironment provides complex biochemical and biophysical signals in part due to the architectural heterogeneities found in extracellular matrices (ECMs). Three dimensional cell cultures can partially mimic in vivo tissue architecture, but to truly understand the role of viscoelasticity on cell fate, we must first determine in vivo tissue mechanical properties to improve in vitro models. We employed Active Microrheology by Optical Trapping InVivo (AMOTIV), using in situ calibration to measure in vivo zebrafish tissue mechanics. Previously used trap calibration methods overestimate complex moduli by ∼2-20 fold compared to AMOTIV. Applying differential microscale stresses and strains showed that hyaluronic acid (HA) gels display semi-flexible polymer behavior, while laminin-rich ECM hydrogels display flexible polymer behavior. In contrast, zebrafish tissues displayed different moduli at different stresses, with higher power law exponents at lower stresses, indicating that living tissue has greater stress dependence than the 3D hydrogels examined. To our knowledge, this work is the first vertebrate tissue rheological characterization performed in vivo. Our fundamental observations are important for the development and refinement of in vitro platforms.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping