Issue 2, 2022

Investigating the mechanotransduction of transient shear stress mediated by Piezo1 ion channel using a 3D printed dynamic gravity pump

Abstract

Microfluidic systems are widely used for studying the mechanotransduction of flow-induced shear stress in mechanosensitive cells. However, these studies are generally performed under constant flow rates, mainly, due to the deficiency of existing pumps for generating transient flows. To address this limitation, we have developed a unique dynamic gravity pump to generate transient flows in microfluidics. The pump utilises a motorised 3D-printed cam–lever mechanism to change the inlet pressure of the system in repeated cycles. 3D printing technology facilitates the rapid and low-cost prototyping of the pump. Customised transient flow patterns can be generated by modulating the profile, size, and rotational speed of the cam, location of the hinge along the lever, and the height of the syringe. Using this unique dynamic gravity pump, we investigated the mechanotransduction of shear stress in HEK293 cells stably expressing Piezo1 mechanosensitive ion channel under transient flows. The controllable, simple, low-cost, compact, and modular design of the pump makes it suitable for studying the mechanobiology of shear sensitive cells under transient flows.

Graphical abstract: Investigating the mechanotransduction of transient shear stress mediated by Piezo1 ion channel using a 3D printed dynamic gravity pump

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 okt 2021
Accepted
14 dec 2021
First published
15 dec 2021

Lab Chip, 2022,22, 262-271

Investigating the mechanotransduction of transient shear stress mediated by Piezo1 ion channel using a 3D printed dynamic gravity pump

G. Concilia, A. Lai, P. Thurgood, E. Pirogova, S. Baratchi and K. Khoshmanesh, Lab Chip, 2022, 22, 262 DOI: 10.1039/D1LC00927C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements