Three-dimensional collagen gel contraction is the standard assay utilized for functionally quantifying a variety of cell types, in particular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and myofibroblasts. Here, we have developed a method to effectively reduce the three-dimensional parameters of the standard collagen gel into a single, linear measurement. Cell/collagen suspensions that are cast into glass capil...

It is now recognized that angiogenesis, the induction of capillary proliferation, is important for the continued growth of solid tumors (1-3). Kessler et al. (4) reported that mast cells assemble at a tumor site before the ingrowth of new capillaries; it was proposed that mast cells may play a role in tumor angiogenesis. Mast cells are also found in increased numbers in other pathologic states ...

Fluid force microscopy combines the positional accuracy and force sensitivity of an atomic force microscope (AFM) with nanofluidics via a microchanneled cantilever. However, adequate loading and cleaning procedures for such AFM micropipettes are required for various application situations. Here, a new frontloading procedure is described for an AFM micropipette functioning as a force- and pressu...

It is now recognized that angiogenesis, the induction of capillary proliferation, is important for the continued growth of solid tumors (1-3). Kessler et al. (4) reported that mast cells assemble at a tumor site before the ingrowth of new capillaries; it was proposed that mast cells may play a role in tumor angiogenesis. Mast cells are also found in increased numbers in other pathologic states ...

Metrological atomic force microscopy measurements are performed on the silica glass interfaces of photonic band-gap fibers and hollow capillaries. The freezing of attenuated out-of-equilibrium capillary waves during the drawing process is shown to result in a reduced surface roughness. The roughness attenuation with respect to the expected thermodynamical limit is determined to vary with the dr...

A reliable microfluidic platform for the generation of stable and monodisperse multistage drug delivery systems is reported. A glass-capillary flow-focusing droplet generation device was used to encapsulate thermally hydrocarbonized porous silicon (PSi) microparticles into the aqueous cores of double emulsion drops, yielding the formation of a multistage PSi-lipid vesicle. This composite system...

A novel optical sensor device monolithically integrated on a glass capillary is presented. Therefore, we took advantage of the ability to fabricate organic optoelectronic devices on non-planar substrates. The functionality of the concept is demonstrated by realizing an integrated oxygen sensor based on luminescence decay time measurement.

In a previous study, the cultured heart rudiment of the Japanese newt embryo of stage 15 (early neurula) could be differentiated into beating myocardial cells in a ROSE's chamber filled with BARTH and BARTH's inorganic solution with the addition of 10% calf-serum. With the use of the inorganic solution free of serum, however, even the material after stage 22 (early tail-bud) could not be differ...

We report a new microfluidic emitter for nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nanoESI-MS), made from polyimide tape. In contrast to the conventional pulled glass capillary emitters typically used for nanoESI-MS, these new polyimide emitters are simple and inexpensive to make, and are disposable after a single use. Thus, sample contamination and clogging are never a problem when analy...