Title :
Towards a Method for Peripheral Nervous System Axonal Stiffness Measurements with MEMS-based Microgrippers
Author :
Layton, B.E. ; Allen, K.B. ; Myers, K.A. ; Stokes, M.D. ; Baas, P.W.
Author_Institution :
Drexel Univ., Philadelphia, PA
Abstract :
We present a novel method for measuring axonal axial stiffness in genetically and metabolically challenged peripheral nerve axons using MEMS-based microgrippers. Using microgrippers with an out of plane stiffness of 122 Newtons/meter, we propose to apply up to 1830 muNewtons of force on axons growing in 50 ng/ml 7s nerve growth factor (NGF) for 4-6 days, then replated on untreated 60 mm tissue culture dishes in 7s NGF media at a strain rate of ~0.01s-1. From this we propose to determine the relative stiffness and growth contributions of both the actin cytoskeleton and the microtubule-dynenin-kinesin cytoskeleton components
Keywords :
biological tissues; biomechanics; biomedical measurement; genetics; grippers; micromechanical devices; molecular biophysics; neurophysiology; proteins; 4 to 6 day; MEMS-based microgrippers; actin cytoskeleton; axonal axial stiffness; microtubule-dynenin-kinesin cytoskeleton components; nerve growth factor; peripheral nervous system; strain; tissue culture dishes; Buildings; Capacitive sensors; Computer simulation; Force measurement; Grippers; Nanobioscience; Nerve fibers; Nervous system; Polymers; Proteins;
Conference_Titel :
Neural Engineering, 2005. Conference Proceedings. 2nd International IEEE EMBS Conference on
Conference_Location :
Arlington, VA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-8710-4
DOI :
10.1109/CNE.2005.1419644
