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Title:: A mechanical measurement device for microtissue fibrosis based on elastic microstrings

作者:: 徐乐乐1; 2; 3; 邓林红1; 2; 3△; 王翔1; 2; 3△; （1.常州大学生物医学工程与健康科学研究院，常州 213164；2.常州大学药学院，常州 213164；3.常州大学生物与食品工程学院，常州 213164）

Author(s):: XU Lele1; 2; 3; DENG Linhong1; 2; 3; WANG Xiang1; 2; 3; （1.Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China；2.School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164；3. School of Biological and Food Engineering，Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164）

Keywords:: 3D microtissue; Fibroblast; Cell contractility; Fibrosis; Mechanosensor; Drug evaluation

摘要:: 为研究组织纤维化的病理机制，建立适用于抗纤维化药物筛选的体外模型，本研究在微弦力学传感器上构建了基于NIH/3T3细胞的纤维化微组织模型，并通过原位实时成像分析微组织纤维化过程中的形态和力学变化。结果显示，在无外源转化生长因子β（TGF-β）刺激条件下，该微组织模型在培养72 h后，自发开始发生纤维化，表现为α-平滑肌肌动蛋白表达及纤连蛋白的沉积；微组织纤维化过程中的力学变化表明，组织收缩力是评测纤维化进程的理想量化指标。通过测量上皮细胞和前列腺素E2对纤维化组织收缩力的抑制作用，验证了该模型作为抗纤维化药物筛选工具的可行性。该研究有望为抗纤维化药物评估和筛选平台的开发提供参考。

Abstract:: In order to study the pathological mechanism of tissue fibrosis and establish an in vitro model for anti-fibrotic drug screening，we established a fibrotic microtissue model based on NIH/3T3 cells on a microstring mechanosensor, and analyzed the morphological and mechanical changes of microtissue fibrosis through in situ real-time imaging. In the absence of exogenous TGF-β stimulation, the microtissue model spontaneously began to undergo fibrosis after 72 h of culture, manifested as the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and the deposition of fibronectin. At the same time, the mechanical changes in the microtissue fibrosis process were measured, suggesting that tissue contractility was an ideal quantitative index for evaluating the fibrosis process. As an evaluation tool, the feasibility of the microstring system for anti-fibrotic drugs was verified by measuring the inhibitory effect of epithelial cells and prostaglandin E2 on the contractility of fibrotic tissue. This study is expected to provide reference for the development of anti fibrotic drug evaluation and screening platforms.