A method for applying strip biaxial stretch to cultured tissues

Mechanical stimulation of wound tissue can result in enhanced mechanical and aesthetic properties. To study this phenomenon in vitro, we modified a commercial vacuum-driven cell-stretching device to apply in vitro cyclic equibiaxial and strip biaxial stretch to fibroblast-populated fibrin gels. Various ratios of biaxial strain were achieved by varying the geometry of the loading post platen. Finite element analysis was used to determine the theoretical strain distributions produced by each loading post platen design. Complex platen geometries were necessary to achieve an adequately large region of strip biaxial stretch. The platens designed in this study will be used to investigate the effect of direction of stretch on the cell-mediated matrix remodeling that occurs during wound healing.