Towards a method for peripheral nervous system axonal stiffness measurements with MEMS-based microgrippers

We present a novel method for measuring axonal axial stiffness in genetically and metabolically challenged peripheral nerve axons using NMMS-based microgrippers. Using microgrippers with an out of plane stiffness of 122 Newtons/meter, we propose to apply up to 1830 mu Newtons of force on axons growing in 50 ng/ml 7s nerve growth factor (NGF) for 4-6 days, then replated on untreated 60 mm tissue culture dishes in 7s NGF media at a strain rate of similar to 0.01s(-1). From this we propose to determine the relative stiffness and growth contributions of both the actin cytoskeleton and the microtubule-dynenin-kinesin cytoskeleton components.