We would like to thank the funding from Medical Research Council and Action Medical Research, which provided MG with a clinical fellowship, GN 2339, to conduct this work.

This protocol follows the ethical guidelines of our institution&#39;s human research ethical committee guidelines on the use, storage, and disposal of human tissue. Human tissue samples can be excised from cadaveric bodies that have been consented for research purposes with relevant ethical approvals. Samples can also be discarded tissue from consented patients undergoing surgical procedures, with relevant ethical approval.
1. Preparation of Skin
<ol>
	<li>Prepare specimens by manually dissecting off the adipose tissue and the thin layer of deep dermis using a scalpel blade and forceps. This step is important to ensure consistency between samples14.</li>
	<li>Cut the resulting sheet of split-thickness skin into a standardized sample size (e.g., 1 cm &#215; 5 cm samples). Determine the specimen size based on the dimensions of the testing apparatus. If a tissue-engineered construct is also being tested, the specimen size should be appropriate for the material of interest14. Dispose of scalpel blades in the appropriate sharps bins.</li>
	<li>To enable completion of the mechanical calculations, measure the thickness of the skin being tested using electronic calipers before and after mechanical testing.</li>
</ol>
2. Tensile Testing
NOTE: All materials testing machines should be calibrated according to the manufacturer&#39;s guidelines prior to testing.
<ol>
	<li>Test skin samples in uniaxial tension using a materials testing machine (Figure 2A) at room temperature (22 &#176;C)14.</li>
	<li>Orientate the skin samples in the same direction for all samples (e.g., perpendicular or in-line with Langer Lines (topological lines drawn on a map of the human body and referring to the natural orientation of collagen fibers in the dermis))14.</li>
	<li>Immobilize the sample between two clamps (a commercial jig), one affixed to a 98.07 N load cell and the other to an immovable base plate14. The resulting area between the clamps tested in uniaxial tension should be 1 cm x 4 cm (Figure 2). 
	NOTE: A commercial jig was utilized to avoid non-uniform gripping and damage to the sample before testing. The sample is fixed to a &#34;finger-tight&#34; tightness.</li>
	<li>Cover the sample area (after placement in the apparatus) on both sides with petroleum jelly to prevent specimen desiccation.</li>
	<li>Program the tensile loading and relaxation testing regime into the software as a list of actions, as follows: Zero Load | Zero Position | Find Contact (Tensile loading) | Wait (Relaxation).</li>
	<li>Start the test with the software program. Load the sample under tension to 29.42 N at 1 mm/s. Use a rate and load that does not cause failure of the skin (e.g., 29.42 N at 1 mm/s).</li>
	<li>After the 29.42 N-load is reached, allow the tissue to relax for 1.5 h, a time-point at which there is minimal change in relaxation behavior, controlled by the computer software14. 
	Note: The displacement is held constant during the relaxation phase, not the load.</li>
	<li>Calculate elastic and viscoelastic properties as per the analysis section guidelines. The mechanical properties investigated will represent the average properties of the split-thickness skin constituents (epidermis and dermis)14. 
	Note: There is no defined tare load, as it is clear from the raw data when deformation is occurring and thus, only these data points are included.</li>
</ol>
3. Preparation of Cartilage
<ol>
	<li>Remove the skin and fascia from the cartilage specimen using a scalpel blade and forceps15,16.</li>
	<li>Divide the cartilage specimens into a standardized sample size (e.g., 1.5-cm blocks) using a scalpel blade and forceps. For all samples, use a semicircular-shaped indenter (Figure 2B) that has a diameter and thickness at least 8 times greater than the size of the cartilage sample. This ratio ensures that the indenter is not affected by any edge effects from specimen preparation15. Dispose of scalpel blades in the appropriate sharps bins.</li>
	<li>To enable completion of the mechanical calculations, measure the thickness of the cartilage to be loaded using electronic calipers before and after mechanical testing15,16.</li>
</ol>
4. Compressive Indentation Testing
<ol>
	<li>Compress the cartilage samples using a materials testing machine in a hydrated environment at room temperature. Cover the cartilage sample with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) prior to and during compression testing to ensure that the sample is hydrated. 
	NOTE: PBS does not exactly match the physiological environment, but it allows both the materials and the tissues to be compared equally15,16.</li>
	<li>Orientate the cartilage sample so the surface is perpendicular to the indenter. This allows the compression to be uniaxial and limits any shear loading15.</li>
	<li>Program the compressive loading and relaxation testing regime into the software as a list of actions, as follows: Zero Load | Zero Position | Find Contact (Compressive loading) | Wait (Relaxation).</li>
	<li>Start the test using the software program. Load the sample under compression to 2.94 N at 1 mm/s15,16. 
	NOTE: This was determined to be a non-destructive load that is sensitive enough to identify both elastic and viscoelastic properties of cartilage15.</li>
	<li>After the 2.94-N limit is reached, allow the cartilage to relax for 15 min, a time-point at which there is minimal change in relaxation behavior, using the computer software15,16. 
	NOTE: Figure 2C-D shows a typical set up for the compression and tensile testing of human tissue specimens. The same protocols can then be applied to synthetic biomaterials to match the biomechanical properties to the native tissue being analyzed. For example, Figure 2E-F demonstrates compression and tensile testing of human tissue closely matching a synthetic material&#39;s biomechanical properties.</li>
</ol>
5. Calculation of Young&#39;s Elastic Modulus for Indentation and Tensile Testing
<ol>
	<li>Collect the raw data including time (s), displacement (mm), and load (N) from the materials testing device14-16.</li>
	<li>Calculate the stress (MPa) and strain (%) using the formulas shown in Figure 3. 
	NOTE: If a hemispherical indenter was used during compression testing, dividing the force by the cross-sectional area gives the nominal (average) stress, but not the peak stress.</li>
	<li>Use a linear scatter plot to plot the stress MPa (y-axis) against the strain (x-axis). Determine the linear curve fit. The linear curve fit is equal to y = mx + b with a respective R value. 
	NOTE: All data points are included to achieve a minimum R value &#62;0.98. The m value is the slope, which corresponds to the modulus of stress over strain, indicating compressive resistance or resistance to tension in MPa (i.e., Young&#39;s Modulus). If the R value is not &#62;0.98, then the assumption of characterizing linear viscoelastic behavior is invalid.</li>
	<li>To identify the viscoelastic properties in which fluid flow from exposure to deformation has reached equilibrium, the ratio of stress over time over the last 200 s of mechanical testing and the final stress level at the end of the experiment are calculated. 
	NOTE: With increasing time, the stress level will decrease (relax) as fluid flow reaches equilibrium17,18. A fast stress-relaxation response indicates that it is difficult to maintain high stresses within the sample17,18.</li>
</ol>
6. Relaxation Properties
<ol>
	<li>Plot stress in MPa (y-axis) against time in s (x-axis) on a linear scatter plot.</li>
	<li>Determine a linear curve fit to calculate the rate of relaxation. The linear curve fit is equal to y = mx + b with a respective value of the last 200 s. The m value is the rate of relaxation.</li>
	<li>Include all data points to obtain a minimum R value &#62;0.98. The final stress (MPa) at 1.5 h for skin and 15 min for cartilage is the final absolute relaxation value.</li>
</ol>

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The authors have nothing to declare.

Several tensile and indentation protocols have been published to characterize human soft tissues. We have provided another method, which aims to be more diagnostic and non-destructive. The samples undergoing mechanical testing in this protocol are limited by load rather than by displacement, as transducers are more sensitive to load than to displacement. Therefore, reproductions of the experiment can be more precise across tissues and synthetic materials. Using this technique, we have demonstrated a tensile protocol for evaluating skin tissue and an indentation protocol for analyzing cartilage tissue. Both protocols are easy and simple to implement and could be considered for the characterization of human soft tissues and tissue-engineered constructs.
One of the vital steps of the methodology to obtain a stress-relaxation curve suitable for analysis is to ensure that the sample does not slip during testing. Adequate fixation is required, but this must be balanced against causing any stress on the specimens and ensuring that the indenter is perpendicular to the surface to prevent any shear loading. It is critical that the composition as well as size and shape of the tissue are similar between samples. For cartilage, it is vital to use a repeatable dissection protocol and sample dimensions. For skin samples, it is vital to remove all the subcutaneous tissue in order to obtain a repeatable sample. It is also important to ensure that for all samples, the specimen conditions are identical, including hydration, room temperature, and thawing process, if appropriate.
There are some limitations to the protocols presented. Studies have suggested that deformation characteristics of skin and cartilage are dependent upon specimen orientation13. Skin was recognized to be anisotropic as far back as the 19th century, with Langer demonstrating in 1861 that the skin has natural lines of tension, referred to as Langer lines4. Thus, when characterizing skin samples, it is important to orientate all samples parallel or perpendicular to the Langer Lines to avoid introducing a methodology bias4. Cartilage also shows anisotropic properties and contains Hultkrantz lines, which are equivalent to Langer lines, so the cartilage can deform differently according the direction in which it is loaded12,19. Thus, it is important to increase the sample size to allow for the testing of cartilage in different directions. As biomechanical properties of tissue also vary with age and gender, studies should be performed with a representative patient cohort to maintain validity to the clinical setting. Furthermore, some mechanical protocols advocate preconditioning, where the tissue undergoes cyclic loading to ensure that the tissue is in a steady state for subsequent mechanical testing20. However, the exact mechanism of preconditioning is unclear and the exact number of cycles needed to produce a consistent and repeatable response varies in different studies20. The researcher should consider whether or not to include preconditioning after evaluating the reason for performing the specific biomechanical test20.
Skin is a complex, multi-layered material, divided into three main layers: the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis4. The mechanical properties of skin tissue have recently been evaluated using in vivo assessments4. However, protocols of tensile testing can be utilized to understand the skin biomechanics of excised skin4. Such tests can provide information to model stress-strain relationships, since the boundary conditions can be defined4. Typically, in vitro testing regimes use high strains to characterize the material to failure, whereas in vivo systems use low strain ranges4. When comparing biomechanical values for excised skin in tension, there is a large variability between different studies, ranging from 2.9-150 MPa4. Large differences between subjects are expected due to natural biological variation, but differences in protocol regimes can also compound these natural biological differences. For example, differences in loading rates between protocols will cause variation, as greater loading rates cause less time for the fluid to flow out, resulting in a higher stiffness. The preparation, excision, and handling protocols of the skin tissue will also cause differences in the mechanical properties4. This protocol demonstrated for testing skin provides an alternative method for researchers to characterize skin tissue. It provides a few advantages, including the ability to identify the elastic and viscoelastic properties of skin tissue in one mechanical test, allowing for a greater understanding of the skin in a short amount of time. Furthermore, the same test can be applied to tissue-engineered replacements to manufacture constructs with similar biomechanical properties as native skin.
Indentation testing provides an attractive option compared to confined compression testing for understanding the biomechanics of cartilage21. Indentation has the ability to preserve the physiological structure of the cartilage and thus provides values that mimic those of a clinical setting. Using indentation, it is also possible to test the cartilage while still attached to the underlying bone. Indentation also allows for physiological testing of cartilage as in vivo. When two cartilage surfaces approach each other, the edges surrounding the area of contact &#34;bulge&#34; due to water under the contact area being displaced laterally after compressive deformation occurs17,21. Cartilage indentation must be conducted with an indenter with a smaller radius than the cartilage sample to allow for similar bulging. The size of the indenter should also be at least 8 times the sample size to ensure that the cartilage reacts as if it were part of an indefinite sample22. Using an indenter much smaller than the radius of the sample diameter eliminates any edge effects present in specimen creation. In addition, indentation avoids possible experimental errors caused by testing cartilage defects damaged by sample extraction. Indentation also does not involve deep sample preparation, such as confined compression, allowing small, thin pieces of cartilage to be tested17,21. Furthermore, the non-destructive method of indentation means that it has a potential application in the clinical setting as a diagnostic tool after validation and verification studies have been performed.
There are key assumptions with indentation that the user must ensure for appropriate results. A critical boundary condition in indentation loading requires constant contact between the indenter and the cartilage surface (i.e., that the surface does not deform away from the indenter)23,24. Indentation loading also includes the assumed boundary condition that the contact between the cartilage surface and the indenter is non-destructive (i.e., that the indenter is in contact with the surface but does not go through the surface; the cartilage surface should not fail under the indenter)25-26. Studies have shown that this boundary condition can be verified through use of India ink, which will stain damaged areas when applied to the cartilage surface25,26. A further boundary condition assumes that the indenter compresses the cartilage perpendicular to the surface of the sample. The perpendicular orientation of the compression is an important boundary condition because compressing at an angle, especially if using cyclic loading, may cause slippage, which may induce shearing components and change the mechanical loading. This condition may be ensured through careful test equipment set up.
After the summarized protocols have been optimized for the soft tissue of interest, it would be useful for researchers to look into dynamic testing of the tissue of interest. Appropriate cyclical loading of specimens should mimic normal physiological limits and behavior, such as mimicking walking or other repetitive movements27. In summary, this report demonstrates simple mechanical testing protocols to evaluate human tissues. Implementing these protocols will provide key information on the biomechanical characteristics of tissues, enabling tissue-engineered constructs to better mimic the native tissue.

Patients are increasingly waiting for various organ transplantations to treat failing or injured organs. However, with the shortage of suitable donor organs, regenerative medicine is aiming to create alternative solutions for patients with end-stage organ failure. Regenerative medicine aims to meet this clinical need by engineering materials to act as tissue substitutes, including soft tissues, such as cartilage and skin. To create a successful material to restore damaged tissues, the replacement material should mimic the properties of the native tissue it is going to replace1-2. Once surgically implanted, the material will need to provide anatomical shape to the tissue defect and thus, the mechanical properties of the material are vital1. For example, a material replacing auricular cartilage should have the appropriate mechanical properties to prevent compression by the overlying skin2. Similarly, a material to replace nasal cartilage will need to have adequate mechanical properties to prevent collapsing during breathing3. However, despite the importance of mechanical properties when manufacturing materials for implantation, little evidence has focused on characterizing the mechanical properties of different human tissues.
Mechanical testing regimes can be used to establish the compressive, tensile, bending, or shear properties of a tissue. Skin is a highly anisotropic, viscoelastic, and nearly incompressible material4-9. Commonly excised skin is tested using uniaxial tensile methodologies, where a suitably shaped strip of skin is gripped at both ends and stretched while the load and extension are recorded4-9.
Since the major component of all soft tissues is interstitial water, the mechanical response of cartilage is strongly related to the flow of fluid through the tissue10-11. Soft tissues such as cartilage have been traditionally tested using compression testing. The methods for testing in compression are quite varied, with confined, unconfined, and indentation being the most prevalent (Figure 1). Within confined compression, a cartilage sample is placed in an impervious, fluid-filled well and loaded through a porous plate. Since the well is non-porous, flow though the cartilage is in the vertical direction12-13. In unconfined compression, the cartilage is loaded using a non-porous plate onto a non-porous chamber, forcing the fluid flow to be predominantly radial12-13. Indentation is the most frequently used method for evaluating the biomechanical properties of cartilage12-13. It consists of an indenter, smaller than the surface of the specimen being tested, that is brought down onto the specimen. Indentation has many advantages over other methods of compression, including the fact that indentation can be performed in situ, enabling the test to be more physiological (Figure 1)12-13.
To understand the compressive and tensile properties of a tissue, the Young&#39;s elastic modulus is typically calculated by analyzing the linear portion of the stress-strain curve, indicating the elastic resistance to compression or tension, irrespective of specimen size12. Both tensile and compressive testing regimes can vary according to the load or deformation applied and the rate of both such parameters. At present, there are many different testing protocols to assess tissue mechanics, which makes it extremely difficult to interpret or compare results from different studies6-13. Furthermore, many mechanical methods currently focus on characterizing the mechanical properties of the tissue by testing the specimen to destruction. We aim to demonstrate an indentation and tensile protocol that provides direct, non-destructive comparison of human soft tissues and tissue-engineered constructs.
We demonstrate a method that limits the mechanical tests to stress yet still obtains a Young&#39;s elastic modulus in compression and tension. The sample is stressed either in tension or compression to a certain value, and once the chosen stress value has been reached, the sample is allowed to relax whilst all the data is recorded. This method captures both the viscoelastic and relaxation properties of the tissue within the same test, which can be applied directly to the synthetic material. We have used the indentation protocol to evaluate human soft tissues, including skin and cartilage14-16. Cartilage is assessed using indentation testing and skin is evaluated using tension testing14-16. Researchers aiming to engineer materials with similar properties to human soft tissues could consider implementing these protocols.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Digitial Vernier Calipers</td><td>Machine Mart</td><td>40218046</td><td>Digitial vernier caliper is used to measure sample thickness.&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Water Bath&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Cole Parmer</td><td>UY-12504-94</td><td>StableTemp Digital Water Bath Flask Holder used to defrost tissues samples if they are frozen.&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Mach-1 Material Testing Machine</td><td>Biomomentum&amp;nbsp;</td><td>V500c</td><td>Mechanical Testing Machine used to test the mechancial properties of the tissues.&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Scalpel Blade&amp;nbsp;</td><td>VWR</td><td>233-5335</td><td>Scalpel blades using to cut and dissect the tissues.&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Forceps&amp;nbsp;</td><td>VWR</td><td>470007-554</td><td>Forceps used to dissect the tissues.&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) pH 7.2</td><td>Life Technologies&amp;nbsp;</td><td>20012019</td><td>PBS is used to hydate the tissue samples&amp;nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>

biomechanical characterization of human soft tissues using indentation and tensile testing

Regenerative medicine aims to engineer materials to replace or restore damaged or diseased organs. The mechanical properties of such materials should mimic the human tissues they are aiming to replace; to provide the required anatomical shape, the materials must be able to sustain the mechanical forces they will experience when implanted at the defect site. Although the mechanical properties of tissue-engineered scaffolds are of great importance, many human tissues that undergo restoration with engineered materials have not been fully biomechanically characterized. Several compressive and tensile protocols are reported for evaluating materials, but with large variability it is difficult to compare results between studies. Further complicating the studies is the often destructive nature of mechanical testing. Whilst an understanding of tissue failure is important, it is also important to have knowledge of the elastic and viscoelastic properties under more physiological loading conditions.
This report aims to provide a minimally destructive protocol to evaluate the compressive and tensile properties of human soft tissues. As examples of this technique, the tensile testing of skin and the compressive testing of cartilage are described. These protocols can also be directly applied to synthetic materials to ensure that the mechanical properties are similar to the native tissue. Protocols to assess the mechanical properties of human native tissue will allow a benchmark by which to create suitable tissue-engineered substitutes.

Figures 4 and 5 provide examples of data obtained via indentation and tensile testing. Figure 4 demonstrates typical values obtained after human cartilage indentation testing. Figure 4A is an example of a typical strain-versus-stress plot obtained after indentation testing. To obtain the Young&#39;s Modulus, all values are included until the line curve fit has a minimum R value of 0.98 (Figure 4B). The m value is the indicator of Young&#39;s Modulus in MPa; for example, in this data, the cartilage has a modulus of 1.76 MPa. Figure 4C shows a typical plot of stress against time to evaluate the relaxation properties of cartilage. The rate of relaxation is calculated from the last 200 s. Similarly, to obtain the rate of relaxation, the m value of a line curve fit in MPa is used. For example, in this data, the cartilage has a rate of relaxation of 8.78 x 10-6 MPa/s (Figure 4D). The absolute final level of relaxation is the final point of stress in MPa. For example, in this data set, the absolute final level of relaxation would be 0.028 MPa (Figure 4D).
Figure 5 shows how to evaluate the viscoelasticity of skin tissue after tensile testing. The analysis is carried out as per compression testing. Figure 5A demonstrates a typical strain-versus-stress plot obtained from the tensile testing protocol. To obtain the Young&#39;s Modulus in tension, all values are included until the line curve fit has a minimum R value of 0.98 (Figure 5B). The m value is the indicator of Young&#39;s Modulus in MPa; for example, in this data, the skin has a modulus of 0.62 MPa. Figure 5C shows a typical plot of stress against time to evaluate the relaxation properties of skin. The rate of relaxation is calculated from the last 200 s. Similarly, to obtain the rate of relaxation, the m value of a line curve fit in MPa is used. For example, in this data, the skin has a rate of relaxation of 3.1 x 10-5 MPa/s (Figure 5D). The absolute final level of relaxation is the final point of stress in MPa. For example, in this data set, the level would be 0.64 MPa (Figure 5D). The same analysis can then be utilized to analyze biomaterials under compression and tensile testing to match their biomechanical properties to native tissue.
<img alt="Figure 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/54872/54872fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1: Schematic diagram to illustrate different compression methodologies. A. Indentation Testing. A load is applied to a small area of the cartilage using a non-porous indenter. B. Confined Compression. The cartilage specimen is placed in an impervious fluid-filled well. The cartilage is then loaded through a porous plate. Since the well is impervious, flow through the cartilage is only in the vertical direction. C. Unconfined Compression. The cartilage is loaded using a non-porous plate onto a non-porous chamber, forcing fluid flow to be predominantly radial.
<img alt="Figure 2" src="/files/ftp_upload/54872/54872fig2.jpg" /> 
Figure 2: Set-up of the mechanical testing machine. A. Illustration of the testing machine. B. Illustration of the indenter used for the compression testing analysis. C. Cartilage being analyzed using compression indentation testing. D. Skin tissue being analyzed under tensile testing. E. Tensile testing of a synthetic biomaterial. F. Compression testing of a synthetic biomaterial.
<img alt="Figure 3" src="/files/ftp_upload/54872/54872fig3.jpg" /> 
Figure 3: Formulas used to calculate the compressive and tensile mechanical properties of a tissue or tissue-engineered construct. The formulas used to calculate force (N), stress (MPa), and strain (%).
<img alt="Figure 4" src="/files/ftp_upload/54872/54872fig4.jpg" /> 
Figure 4: Example of compression analysis of human cartilage. A. Stress-versus-strain analysis. B. The m value of the line curve fit equation is the Young&#39;s Elastic Modulus in MPa. C. Stress-versus-time analysis to demonstrate relaxation properties. D. The m value of the line curve fit equation indicates the relaxation rate. The final absolute rate is the last point on the graph.
<img alt="Figure 5" src="/files/ftp_upload/54872/54872fig5.jpg" /> 
Figure 5: Example of tensile analysis of human skin. A. Stress-versus-strain analysis. B. The m value of the line curve fit equation is the Young&#39;s Elastic Modulus in MPa. C. Stress-versus-time analysis to demonstrate relaxation properties. D. The m value of the line curve fit equation equates to the relaxation rate. The final absolute rate is the last point on the graph.

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Biomechanical Characterization of Human Soft Tissues Using Indentation and Tensile Testing

Tissue biomechanics is important for maintaining cell shape and function and for determining phenotype. This report demonstrates non-destructive mechanical protocols for characterizing elastic and viscoelastic properties of human soft tissues, which can be directly applied to tissue-engineered substrates to allow a close matching of engineered materials to native tissue.

Regenerative medicine aims to engineer materials to replace or restore damaged or diseased organs. The mechanical properties of such materials should ...

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Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

31.4K Views.  University College London (UCL). Tissue biomechanics is important for maintaining cell shape and function and for determining phenotype. This report demonstrates non-destructive mechanical protocols for characterizing elastic and viscoelastic properties of human soft tissues, which can be directly applied to tissue-engineered substrates to allow a close matching of engineered materials to native tissue.

Video: Biomechanical Characterization of Human Soft Tissues Using Indentation and Tensile Testing

Characterization Of Multi-layered Fish Scales (Atractosteus spatula) Using Nanoindentation, X-ray CT, FTIR, and SEM

The hierarchical architecture of protective biological materials such as mineralized fish scales, gastropod shells, ram&#8217;s horn, antlers, and turtle shells provides unique design principles with potentials for guiding the design of protective materials and systems in the future. Understanding the structure-property relationships for these material systems at the microscale and nanoscale where failure initiates is essential. Currently, experimental techniques such as nanoindentation, X-ray CT, and SEM provide researchers with a way to correlate the mechanical behavior with hierarchical microstructures of these material systems1-6. However, a well-defined standard procedure for specimen preparation of mineralized biomaterials is not currently available. In this study, the methods for probing spatially correlated chemical, structural, and mechanical properties of the multilayered scale of A. spatula using nanoindentation, FTIR, SEM, with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis, and X-ray CT are presented.

Characterization Of Multi-layered Fish Scales Atractosteus spatula Using Nanoindentation, X-ray CT, FTIR, and SEM

This paper presents the methods used for probing spatially correlated chemical, structural, and mechanical properties of the multilayered scale of Atractosteus spatula (A. spatula) using nanoindentation, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT). The experimental results have been used to investigate the design principles of protective biological materials.

The hierarchical architecture of protective biological materials such as mineralized fish scales, gastropod shells, ram&#8217;s horn, antlers, and turtle ...

A Coupled Experiment-finite Element Modeling Methodology for Assessing High Strain Rate Mechanical Response of Soft Biomaterials

This study offers a combined experimental and finite element (FE) simulation approach for examining the mechanical behavior of soft biomaterials (e.g. brain, liver, tendon, fat, etc.) when exposed to high strain rates. This study utilized a Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) to generate strain rates of 100-1,500 sec-1. The SHPB employed a striker bar consisting of a viscoelastic material (polycarbonate). A sample of the biomaterial was obtained shortly postmortem and prepared for SHPB testing. The specimen was interposed between the incident and transmitted bars, and the pneumatic components of the SHPB were activated to drive the striker bar toward the incident bar. The resulting impact generated a compressive stress wave (i.e. incident wave) that traveled through the incident bar. When the compressive stress wave reached the end of the incident bar, a portion continued forward through the sample and transmitted bar (i.e. transmitted wave) while another portion reversed through the incident bar as a tensile wave (i.e. reflected wave). These waves were measured using strain gages mounted on the incident and transmitted bars. The true stress-strain behavior of the sample was determined from equations based on wave propagation and dynamic force equilibrium. The experimental stress-strain response was three dimensional in nature because the specimen bulged. As such, the hydrostatic stress (first invariant) was used to generate the stress-strain response. In order to extract the uniaxial (one-dimensional) mechanical response of the tissue, an iterative coupled optimization was performed using experimental results and Finite Element Analysis (FEA), which contained an Internal State Variable (ISV) material model used for the tissue. The ISV material model used in the FE simulations of the experimental setup was iteratively calibrated (i.e. optimized) to the experimental data such that the experiment and FEA strain gage values and first invariant of stresses were in good agreement.

The current study prescribes a coupled experiment-finite element simulation methodology to obtain the uniaxial dynamic mechanical response of soft biomaterials (brain, liver, tendon, fat, etc.). The multiaxial experimental results that arose because of specimen bulging obtained from Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar testing were rendered to a uniaxial true stress-strain behavior when simulated through iterative optimization of the finite element analysis of the biomaterial.

This study offers a combined experimental and finite element (FE) simulation approach for examining the mechanical behavior of soft biomaterials (e.g. ...

Atomic Force Microscopy Cantilever-Based Nanoindentation: Mechanical Property Measurements at the Nanoscale in Air and Fluid

An atomic force microscope (AFM) fundamentally measures the interaction between a nanoscale AFM probe tip and the sample surface. If the force applied by the probe tip and its contact area with the sample can be quantified, it is possible to determine the nanoscale mechanical properties (e.g., elastic or Young&#39;s modulus) of the surface being probed. A detailed procedure for performing quantitative AFM cantilever-based nanoindentation experiments is provided here, with representative examples of how the technique can be applied to determine the elastic moduli of a wide variety of sample types, ranging from kPa to GPa. These include live mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and nuclei in physiological buffer, resin-embedded dehydrated loblolly pine cross-sections, and Bakken shales of varying composition.
Additionally, AFM cantilever-based nanoindentation is used to probe the rupture strength (i.e., breakthrough force) of phospholipid bilayers. Important practical considerations such as method choice and development, probe selection and calibration, region of interest identification, sample heterogeneity, feature size and aspect ratio, tip wear, surface roughness, and data analysis and measurement statistics are discussed to aid proper implementation of the technique. Finally, co-localization of AFM-derived nanomechanical maps with electron microscopy techniques that provide additional information regarding elemental composition is demonstrated.

Quantifying the contact area and force applied by an atomic force microscope (AFM) probe tip to a sample surface enables nanoscale mechanical property determination. Best practices to implement AFM cantilever-based nanoindentation in air or fluid on soft and hard samples to measure elastic modulus or other nanomechanical properties are discussed.

An atomic force microscope (AFM) fundamentally measures the interaction between a nanoscale AFM probe tip and the sample surface. If the force applied by ...

Engineering

Characterizing Multiscale Mechanical Properties of Brain Tissue Using Atomic Force Microscopy, Impact Indentation, and Rheometry

To design and engineer materials inspired by the properties of the brain, whether for mechanical simulants or for tissue regeneration studies, the brain tissue itself must be well characterized at various length and time scales. Like many biological tissues, brain tissue exhibits a complex, hierarchical structure. However, in contrast to most other tissues, brain is of very low mechanical stiffness, with Young&#39;s elastic moduli E on the order of 100s of Pa. This low stiffness can present challenges to experimental characterization of key mechanical properties. Here, we demonstrate several mechanical characterization techniques that have been adapted to measure the elastic and viscoelastic properties of hydrated, compliant biological materials such as brain tissue, at different length scales and loading rates. At the microscale, we conduct creep-compliance and force relaxation experiments using atomic force microscope-enabled indentation. At the mesoscale, we perform impact indentation experiments using a pendulum-based instrumented indenter. At the macroscale, we conduct parallel plate rheometry to quantify the frequency dependent shear elastic moduli. We also discuss the challenges and limitations associated with each method. Together these techniques enable an in-depth mechanical characterization of brain tissue that can be used to better understand the structure of brain and to engineer bio-inspired materials.

We present a set of techniques to characterize the viscoelastic mechanical properties of brain at the micro-, meso-, and macro-scales.

To design and engineer materials inspired by the properties of the brain, whether for mechanical simulants or for tissue regeneration studies, the brain ...

Neuroscience

Micro-Mechanical Characterization of Lung Tissue Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Matrix stiffness strongly influences growth, differentiation and function of adherent cells1-3. On the macro scale the stiffness of tissues and organs within the human body span several orders of magnitude4. Much less is known about how stiffness varies spatially within tissues, and what the scope and spatial scale of stiffness changes are in disease processes that result in tissue remodeling. To better understand how changes in matrix stiffness contribute to cellular physiology in health and disease, measurements of tissue stiffness obtained at a spatial scale relevant to resident cells are needed. This is particularly true for the lung, a highly compliant and elastic tissue in which matrix remodeling is a prominent feature in diseases such as asthma, emphysema, hypertension and fibrosis. To characterize the local mechanical environment of lung parenchyma at a spatial scale relevant to resident cells, we have developed methods to directly measure the local elastic properties of fresh murine lung tissue using atomic force microscopy (AFM) microindentation. With appropriate choice of AFM indentor, cantilever, and indentation depth, these methods allow measurements of local tissue shear modulus in parallel with phase contrast and fluorescence imaging of the region of interest. Systematic sampling of tissue strips provides maps of tissue mechanical properties that reveal local spatial variations in shear modulus. Correlations between mechanical properties and underlying anatomical and pathological features illustrate how stiffness varies with matrix deposition in fibrosis. These methods can be extended to other soft tissues and disease processes to reveal how local tissue mechanical properties vary across space and disease progression.

The stiffness of the extracellular matrix strongly influences multiple behaviors of adherent cells. Matrix stiffness varies spatially throughout a tissue, and undergoes modification in various disease conditions. Here we develop methods to characterize spatial variations in stiffness in normal and fibrotic mouse lung tissue using atomic force microscopy microindentation.

Matrix stiffness strongly influences growth, differentiation and function of adherent cells1-3.  On the macro scale the stiffness of tissues and organs ...

Biology

Application of Atomic Force Microscopy to Detect Early Osteoarthritis

Biomechanical properties of cells and tissues not only regulate their shape and function but are also crucial for maintaining their vitality. Changes in elasticity can propagate or trigger the onset of major diseases like cancer or osteoarthritis (OA). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has emerged as a strong tool to qualitatively and quantitatively characterize the biomechanical properties of specific biological target structures on a microscopic scale, measuring forces in a range from as small as the piconewton to the micronewton. Biomechanical properties are of special importance in musculoskeletal tissues, which are subjected to high levels of strain. OA as a degenerative disease of the cartilage results in the disruption of the pericellular matrix (PCM) and the spatial rearrangement of the chondrocytes embedded in their extracellular matrix (ECM). Disruption in PCM and ECM has been associated with changes in the biomechanical properties of cartilage. In the present study we used AFM to quantify these changes in relation to the specific spatial pattern changes of the chondrocytes. With each pattern change, significant changes in elasticity were observed for both the PCM and ECM. Measuring the local elasticity thus allows for drawing direct conclusions about the degree of local tissue degeneration in OA.

We present a method to investigate early osteoarthritic changes at the cellular level in articular cartilage by using atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Biomechanical properties of cells and tissues not only regulate their shape and function but are also crucial for maintaining their vitality. Changes in ...

Experimental and Data Analysis Workflow for Soft Matter Nanoindentation

Nanoindentation refers to a class of experimental techniques where a micrometric force probe is used to quantify the local mechanical properties of soft biomaterials and cells. This approach has gained a central role in the fields of mechanobiology, biomaterials design&#160;and tissue engineering, to obtain a proper mechanical characterization of soft materials with a resolution comparable to the size of single cells (&#956;m). The most popular strategy to acquire such experimental data is to employ an atomic force microscope (AFM); while this instrument offers an unprecedented resolution in force (down to pN) and space (sub-nm), its usability is often limited by its complexity that prevents routine measurements of integral indicators of mechanical properties, such as Young&#39;s Modulus (E). A new generation of nanoindenters, such as those based on optical fiber sensing technology, has recently gained popularity for its ease of integration while allowing to apply sub-nN forces with &#181;m spatial resolution, therefore being suitable to probe local mechanical properties of hydrogels and cells.
In this protocol, a step-by-step guide detailing the experimental procedure to acquire nanoindentation data on hydrogels and cells using a commercially available ferrule-top optical fiber sensing nanoindenter is presented. Whereas some steps are specific to the instrument used herein, the proposed protocol can be taken as a guide for other nanoindentation devices, granted some steps are adapted according to the manufacturer&#39;s guidelines. Further, a new open-source Python software equipped with a user-friendly graphical user interface for the analysis of nanoindentation data is presented, which allows for screening of incorrectly acquired curves, data filtering, computation of the contact point through different numerical procedures, the conventional computation of E, as well as a more advanced analysis particularly suited for single-cell nanoindentation data.

The protocol presents a complete workflow for soft material nanoindentation experiments, including hydrogels and cells. First, the experimental steps to acquire force spectroscopy data are detailed; then, the analysis of such data is detailed through a newly developed open-source Python software, which is free to download from GitHub.

Nanoindentation refers to a class of experimental techniques where a micrometric force probe is used to quantify the local mechanical properties of soft ...

Viscoelastic Characterization of Soft Tissue-Mimicking Gelatin Phantoms using Indentation and Magnetic Resonance Elastography

Characterization of biomechanical properties of soft biological tissues is important to understand the tissue mechanics and explore the biomechanics-related mechanisms of disease, injury, and development. The mechanical testing method is the most straightforward way for tissue characterization and is considered as verification for in vivo measurement. Among the many ex vivo mechanical testing techniques, the indentation test provides a reliable way, especially for samples that are small, hard to fix, and viscoelastic such as brain tissue. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a clinically used method to measure the biomechanical properties of soft tissues. Based on shear wave propagation in soft tissues recorded using MRE, viscoelastic properties of soft tissues can be estimated in vivo based on wave equation. Here, the viscoelastic properties of gelatin phantoms with two different concentrations were measured by MRE and indentation. The protocols of phantom fabrication, testing, and modulus estimation have been presented.

This article presents a demonstration and summary of protocols of making gelatin phantoms that mimic soft tissues, and the corresponding viscoelastic characterization using indentation and magnetic resonance elastography.

Characterization of biomechanical properties of soft biological tissues is important to understand the tissue mechanics and explore the ...

Addressing Practical Issues in Atomic Force Microscopy-Based Micro-Indentation on Human Articular Cartilage Explants

Without a doubt, atomic force microscopy (AFM) is currently one of the most powerful and useful techniques to assess micro and even nano-cues in the biological field. However, as with any other microscopic approach, methodological challenges can arise. In particular, the characteristics of the sample, sample preparation, type of instrument, and indentation probe can lead to unwanted artifacts. In this protocol, we exemplify these emerging issues on healthy as well as osteoarthritic articular cartilage explants. To this end, we first show via a step-by-step approach how to generate, grade, and visually classify ex vivo articular cartilage discs according to different stages of degeneration by means of large 2D mosaic fluorescence imaging of the whole tissue explants. The major strength of the ex vivo model is that it comprises aged, native, human cartilage that allows the investigation of osteoarthritis-related changes from early onset to progression. In addition, common pitfalls in tissue preparation, as well as the actual AFM procedure together with the subsequent data analysis, are also presented. We show how basic but crucial steps such as sample preparation and processing, topographic sample characteristics caused by advanced degeneration, and sample-tip interaction can impact data acquisition. We also subject to scrutiny the most common problems in AFM and describe, where possible, how to overcome them. Knowledge of these limitations is of the utmost importance for correct data acquisition, interpretation, and, ultimately, the embedding of findings into a broad scientific context.

We present a step-by-step approach to identify and address the most common problems associated with atomic force microscopy micro-indentations. We exemplify the emerging problems on native human articular cartilage explants characterized by various degrees of osteoarthritis-driven degeneration.

Without a doubt, atomic force microscopy (AFM) is currently one of the most powerful and useful techniques to assess micro and even nano-cues in the ...

Multimodal Analysis of Bone Formation Using Explant Models

Comprehensive Characterization of Tissue Mineralization in an Ex Vivo Model

The extensive characterization of tissue mineralization in the context of bone regeneration represents a significant challenge, given the numerous modalities that are currently available for analysis. Here, we propose a workflow for a comprehensive evaluation of new bone formation using a relevant large animal osseous ex vivo explant. A bone defect (diameter = 3.75 mm; depth = 5.0 mm) is created in an explanted sheep femoral head and injected with a macroporous bone substitute loaded with a pro-osteogenic growth factor (bone morphogenetic protein 2 - BMP2). Subsequently, the explant is maintained in culture for a 28-day period, allowing cellular colonization and subsequent bone formation. To evaluate the quality and structure of newly mineralized tissue, the following successive methods are set up: (i) Characterization and high-resolution 3D images of the entire explant using micro-CT, followed by deep learning image analyses to enhance the discrimination of mineralized tissues; (ii) Nano-indentation to determine the mechanical properties of the newly formed tissue; (iii) Histological examinations, such as Hematoxylin/Eosin/Saffron (HES), Goldner's trichrome, and Movat's pentachrome to provide a qualitative assessment of mineralized tissue, particularly with regard to the visualization of the osteoid barrier and the presence of bone cells; (iv) Back-scattering scanning electron microscopy (SEM) mapping with internal reference to quantify the degree of mineralization and provide detailed insights into surface morphology, mineral composition, and bone-biomaterial interface; (v) Raman spectroscopy to characterize the molecular composition of the mineralized matrix and to provide insights into the persistence of BMP2 within the cement through the detection of peptide bonds. This multimodal analysis will provide an effective assessment of newly formed bone and comprehensive qualitative and quantitative insights into mineralized tissues. Through the standardization of these protocols, we aim to facilitate interstudy comparisons and improve the validity and reliability of research findings.

Author Spotlight: Advanced Techniques for Characterizing Tissue Mineralization in Bone Regeneration Research

The proposed protocol entails a global approach to assess bone formation in the context of bone regeneration using multimodal analyses. It aims to provide qualitative and quantitative information on new bone formation, enhancing the rigor and validity of basic and pre-clinical investigations.

Biomechanical Characterization of Human Soft Tissues Using Indentation and Tensile Testing

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