Micropatterned silicone elastomer substrates for high resolution analysis of cellular force patterns.

@article{Cesa2007MicropatternedSE,
  title={Micropatterned silicone elastomer substrates for high resolution analysis of cellular force patterns.},
  author={Claudia M. Cesa and Norbert Kirchgessner and Dirk Mayer and Ulrich S. Schwarz and Bernd Hoffmann and Rudolf Merkel},
  journal={The Review of scientific instruments},
  year={2007},
  volume={78 3},
  pages={
          034301
        }
}
Cellular forces are closely related to many physiological processes, including cell migration, growth, division, and differentiation. Here, we describe newly developed techniques to measure these forces with high spatial resolution. Our approach is based on ultrasoft silicone elastomer films with a regular microstructure molded into the surface. Mechanical forces applied by living cells to such films result in elastomer deformation which can be quantified by video microscopy and digital image… 
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