We examined the differentiation characteristics of C2C12 mouse myoblasts on polyacrylamide hydrogels of varying stiffness’ in comparison to widely used polystyrene tissue culture plates. The benchmarks we used included formation of myotube fibers, BrdU incorporation, myosin heavy chain expression, and fiber contraction. As a method of observing fiber contraction, we designed, built, and used an electrical stimulation device which allowed us to run a current through the cells after they had differentiated while viewing and recording the cells in real time. The data suggest that cells grown on hydrogels proliferate less but differentiate more similar to those in vivo.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Dao, Kien Vinh
• Martinez-Betancourt, Adriana
• Lessard, Jeffrey Philip
• Yeh, Yow-Chyuan

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042612-112633

Advisor

• Ambady, Sakthikumar
• Page, Raymond L.

Year

• 2012

Date created

• 2012-04-26

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright