AgarSqueezer - device

Description

AgarSqueezer is a device designed to study cell response to short and long term mechanical confinement within a physiological rigidity range.
The compression height can be choosen among according to the wafer sizes: 2.5µm, 5µm,30µm, 100µm.

Key Features
1. Instant & homogeneous cell confinement
2. Physiological rigidity. The mechanical properties of agarose reproduce stiffness of the in vivo microenvironment (1-150 kPa).
3. Long-term confinement. The porous nature of agarose facilitates nutrient and oxygen diffusion, allowing for long-term cell culture and monitoring in confined conditions (up to 10 days).
4. Fully compatible with in situ and ex situ analyses. The system is compatible with real-time dynamic imaging and all immunostaining steps can be performed in situ. Alternatively, cells can be easily collected for downstream assays including standard molecular analyses.
5. Highly flexible. Various pillar heights available, tunable matrix stiffness, composition and possibility to coat with ECM proteins.

Applications
Agarsqueezer has been successfully used to confine adherent and non-adherent cells, including:

• Human: primary T-lymphocytes, TF1 & ML2 leukemic cells, HS27A fibroblasts, MCF10A breast cells, MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, U-2 OS osteosarcoma cells, PC-3 & DU 145 prostate cancer cells, HT29 & HCT116 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells and HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells
• Murine: megakaryocytes, osteocyte-like cells MLO-Y4, primary muscle cells & primary dendritic cells
• Plant: cells from Arabidopsis roots
• 3D cell cultures: mice gastruloïds

Compatible assays

• Live imaging*: cell viability, proliferation, migration, morphology, nuclear deformability, cytoskeleton reorganization, cell tracking, etc
• Standard molecular analysis (immunostaining, western blot, qPCR, flow cytometry, etc): changes in gene/protein expression, proliferation,

Kit contents:
. 1 Agarsqueezer device
. 2 needles
. (Optional) 1 device holder for use with live cell imaging chambers
Silicium wafers to mold confining pillars of various heights can be bought separately

Also available with 1 microscope holder (total dkk 14.850) or 2 devices with 1 miscope holder (total dkk 24.473) . Please use our contact form for more information..

Agarsqueezer has been designed by Audrey Prunet, Gilles Simon, Hélène Delanoë-Ayari, Véronique Maguer-Satta and Charlotte Rivière (ILM Lyon, France).

Original publication:Prunet et al. 20 (21). Additional publication: Mouelhi et al. 2023