Hücrelerin mekanik özelliklerinin ve hücre-alttaş etkileşimlerinin ölçümü i̇çin orta ve mikro ölçekte i̇ki yöntem geliştirlmesi

Mechanical factors that affect cells play key roles in many human diseases such as myopathies, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer metastasis. Mechanical characterization of cells and cell-substrate interactions is therefore significant to the diagnosis and treatment of such diseases. Moreover, understanding cell mechanics can facilitate the integration of cells into machine design at the microscale. In this study, a mesoscale and a microscale method are developed for the mechanical characterization of cells and cell-substrate interactions. The mesoscale approach is to integrate uniaxial stretching with optical microscopy. A custom built stretcher device is developed for deforming an elastic substrate and adherent cells. Microscopy is used to image both the substrate and the cells. Substrates with embedded fluorescent microspheres are prepared to demonstrate the measurement of local in-plane strain fields. This method enables establishing accurate correlations between substrate deformation and cell response. The microscale approach is based on the idea of building a smart surface comprising an array of MEMS sensors to measure traction forces between adherent cells and the surface itself. Electromechanical design of a single MEMS traction sensor utilizing piezoresistive silicon nanowires is reported. The design process is geared towards optimizing both the piezoresistive response, and the mechanical sensitivity. The design of a suitable fabrication flow is also reported and the initial fabrication results are presented. In concluding, a method for the characterization of MEMS sensor, and design methodology and fabrication approach for a sensor array are proposed for future research.