Design of an ultrasound chamber for cellular excitation and observation

Abstract

In this work, a design of integrating ultrasonic transduction with live cell imaging chamber is introduced. The principle of a metal-incident-glass-output acoustic path was used to deliver a uniform energy profile into the imaging/incubation chamber in the form of leaky Lamb waves. The design was applied to examine living mouse mammary gland epithelial cells (EpH4). Significant changes in intracellular activities were observed even at a very low energy intensity level (1 MHz, ISATA = 1 mW/cm2, continuous wave). Live imaging with ultrasonic stimulation provides a different paradigm to interrogate cellular mechanosensitive responses in real time.

Piezoelectric effect stimulates the rearrangement of chondrogenic cells and alters ciliary orientation via atypical PKCζ

“…In addition to osteoblasts, mesenchymal stem cells and chondrocytes play major roles before or during the endochondral stage of fracture healing. To study the difference of ultrasound and piezoelectrical stimulation on bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC), we have developed a device [ 14 ] in which the cells attached on either a glass or a quartz coverslip can be stimulated by either ultrasound or piezoelectrical stimulation. We found that the piezoelectric stimulation promotes the aggregation and chondrogenic differentiation of BMMSC although both ultrasound and piezoelectric stimulations can up-regulate the SOX9 protein level [ 15 ].…”

ASIC1a is required for neuronal activation via low-intensity ultrasound stimulation in mouse brain

“…Considering the combinatorial forces mode in vitro, we argue, in a mixed loading condition (Fig. 2 B and 3 F), the extracellular domains of ASIC1a are under shear force pulling the protein to the flow direction while the intracellular domains of the ASIC1a are connected to cortical actin or other cytoskeleton, which experiences dynamic reorganization coupling with membrane withdrawals in response to ultrasound (28,29). As such, mechano-signal triggered ASIC1a, essentially a sodium channel, results in the intracellular calcium elevation possibly by activating voltage-gated calcium channels (30).…”

“…To explain the mode of ultrasound induced ASIC1a mechanotransduction, we hypothesized a physical effect of micropipette ultrasound at cell level; which the acoustic streaming imposes shear stress on cell apical surfaces while ultrasound exerts compressional stresses throughout the cells. Considering the combinatorial forces mode in vitro, we argue, in a mixed loading condition ( Figures 2B and 3 F ), the extracellular domains of ASIC1a are under shear force pulling the protein to the flow direction while the intracellular domains of the ASIC1a are connected to cortical actin or other cytoskeleton, which experiences dynamic reorganization coupling with membrane withdrawals in response to ultrasound ( Chu et al, 2019 ; Lim et al, 2020 ). As such, mechano-signal triggered ASIC1a, essentially a sodium channel, results in the intracellular calcium elevation possibly by activating voltage-gated calcium channels ( Boillat et al, 2014 ).…”

ASIC1a is required for neuronal activation via low-intensity ultrasound stimulation in mouse brain

“…Considering the tether model in vitro, we argue, in a mixed loading condition ( Fig. 2 B and 3 F), the extracellular domains of ASIC1a are under shear force pulling the protein to the flow direction while the intracellular domains of the ASIC1a are connected to cortical actin or other cytoskeleton, which experiences dynamic reorganization coupling with membrane withdrawals in response to ultrasound (24). The anchor-pulling condition in vivo on the other hand (SI Appendix, Fig.…”