A new device for live cell imaging of biological samples under in-plane shear

The effect of mechanical stresses and deformations on the behavior and properties of cells and tissues is a topic of paramount interest in the field of biophysics. Its understanding is essential for deepening our comprehension of cellular responses to environmental stimuli, with implications in fields ranging from embryogenesis to tumor development. To boost our understanding in this field, it is important to develop devices for the application of simple deformations in order to probe the cellular response to basic mechanical transformations. While a number of stretching devices have been developed, in-plane shearing deformation has been little investigated. Here, a new device is introduced that allows the application of homogeneous in-plane shear upon a cell monolayer while imaging the sample with a commercial optical microscope. A description of the experimental challenges faced is reported, and a full characterization is presented. The capability of the device to apply a reproducible, controlled, and homogeneous shear to both single cells and confluent cellular monolayers is demonstrated.