MICROSCALE FORCE-TRANSDUCER SYSTEM TO QUANTIFY ISOLATED HEART CELL CONTRACTILE CHARACTERISTICS

A custom-designed microelectromechanical force transducer, with a volu me of less than 1 mm(3), is being developed to quantify forces generat ed in isolated cardiac muscle cells. A single heart cell will be attac hed to flexible, hinged polysilicon plates submerged in a nutrient sol ution. As the cell contracts, the plates will bend, and the contractil e force can be measured based on the known spring constant of the plat e and the amount of deflection. Prototype structures have been fabrica ted and have been mechanically tested. We have demonstrated that livin g rat heart cells can be attached to polysilicon using a commercial si licone sealant. We have also observed that polysilicon is an inert mat erial when exposed to cardiac cells and their saline environment, and has no detectable effect an the cells themselves.