Mechanobiology I Flashcards
What is mechanobiology?
The study of how physical forces change cells and tissues.
What is mechanotransduction?
Conversion of a physical force into a biochemical signal. e.g. blood pressure autoregulation, when pressure increases, blood flow increases.
What does a lung on a chip do?
It emulates lung functionality, it has the specific tissue structure of a lung.
A vacuum is applied and released to emulate breathing.
What is the structure of a lung on a chip?
Semi permeable membrane, top channel is epithelial cells, lower channel is endothelial membrane.
Air flow on top and fluid flow on bottom.
2 side elastic chambers.
What is expressed when there is inflammation?
ICAM
Example of uptake of nano particles requiring mechanical stretching.
When silica is inhaled, ICAM is induced which causes stretching.
Equation of stiffness:
Stress / Strain (N/m^2)
What are examples of soft tissues?
Brain, embryo, breast
What are examples of intermediate tissues?
Liver, kidney, lung
What are examples of stiff tissues?
Muscle, cartilage, bone
What is increased stiffness an indicator of?
Diseased tissue
How can mechanical forces promote tumour aggression?
Expanding tumours will create more stress, because of size and increase of interstitial pressure.
To counter the stresses, tumours develop a desmoplastic response.
What is interstitial pressure?
Involves the fluid occupying the spaces between cells containing water soluble components
