Zhu Yingxuan, Zhang Mengqi, Sun Qingqing, Wang Xiaofeng, Li Xiaomeng, Li Qian
School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
National Center for International Joint Research of Micro-nano Moulding Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
Polymers (Basel). 2023 Jul 31;15(15):3255. doi: 10.3390/polym15153255.
Mechanics, as a key physical factor which affects cell function and tissue regeneration, is attracting the attention of researchers in the fields of biomaterials, biomechanics, and tissue engineering. The macroscopic mechanical properties of tissue engineering scaffolds have been studied and optimized based on different applications. However, the mechanical properties of the overall scaffold materials are not enough to reveal the mechanical mechanism of the cell-matrix interaction. Hence, the mechanical detection of cell mechanics and cellular-scale microenvironments has become crucial for unraveling the mechanisms which underly cell activities and which are affected by physical factors. This review mainly focuses on the advanced technologies and applications of cell-scale mechanical detection. It summarizes the techniques used in micromechanical performance analysis, including atomic force microscope (AFM), optical tweezer (OT), magnetic tweezer (MT), and traction force microscope (TFM), and analyzes their testing mechanisms. In addition, the application of mechanical testing techniques to cell mechanics and tissue engineering scaffolds, such as hydrogels and porous scaffolds, is summarized and discussed. Finally, it highlights the challenges and prospects of this field. This review is believed to provide valuable insights into micromechanics in tissue engineering.
力学作为影响细胞功能和组织再生的关键物理因素，正吸引着生物材料、生物力学和组织工程领域研究人员的关注。基于不同应用，组织工程支架的宏观力学性能已得到研究和优化。然而，整体支架材料的力学性能不足以揭示细胞与基质相互作用的力学机制。因此，细胞力学和细胞尺度微环境的力学检测对于阐明细胞活动的潜在机制以及受物理因素影响的机制至关重要。本综述主要聚焦于细胞尺度力学检测的先进技术及应用。它总结了用于微机械性能分析的技术，包括原子力显微镜（AFM）、光镊（OT）、磁镊（MT）和牵引力显微镜（TFM），并分析了它们的测试机制。此外，还总结并讨论了力学测试技术在细胞力学和组织工程支架（如水凝胶和多孔支架）中的应用。最后，强调了该领域的挑战与前景。相信本综述能为组织工程中的微观力学提供有价值的见解。
