Non-invasive mapping of interstitial fluid pressure in microscale tissues

Integr Biol (Camb). 2014 Oct;6(10):979-87. doi: 10.1039/c4ib00164h.

Abstract

This study describes a non-invasive method for mapping interstitial fluid pressure within hydrogel-based microscale tissues. The method is based on embedding (or forming) a tissue within a silicone (PDMS) microfluidic device, and measuring the extremely slight displacement (<1 μm) of the PDMS optically when the device is pressurized under static and flow conditions. The displacement field under uniform pressure provides a map of the local device stiffness, which can then be used to obtain the non-uniform pressure field under flow conditions. We have validated this method numerically and applied it towards determining the hydraulic properties of tumor cell aggregates, blind-ended epithelial tubes, and perfused endothelial tubes that were all cultured within micropatterned collagen gels. The method provides an accessible tool for generating high-resolution maps of interstitial fluid pressure for studies in mechanobiology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cell Line
  • Computer Simulation
  • Dogs
  • Extracellular Fluid / physiology*
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Hydrogels
  • Hydrostatic Pressure*
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Interference
  • Models, Theoretical*

Substances

  • Hydrogels