PDMS stretchable platforms for the studies of mechanical compression on neurogenesis

The use of MEMS to study the effect of mechanical compression on neurogenesis has been demonstrated. Polydimethylsiloxane-(PDMS)-based stretchable platforms were used on neurosphere assay to investigate the role of mechanical forces on the formation of radial glial processes, neuronal generation and migration. To induce mechanical compression on neurospheres, The PDMS culturing substrate is patterned with micron-sized wells. Neurospheres are cultured on the prestretched device. After 48 hours, when neurospheres are grown to the size of the well's width, the stretched substrate is released. The experimental results showed that applied mechanical compression on neural stem cells cultured as neurospheres could be a factor accelerating the radial glial formation, which is associated to neurogenesis and neuronal migration.