Large-scale, ultrapliable, and free-standing nanomembranes.

Kang, Edward; Ryoo, Jihee; Jeong, Gi Seok; Choi, Yoon Young; Jeong, Seung Min; Ju, Jongil; Chung, Seok; Takayama, Shuichi et al. · Adv Mater · 2013

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The creation and characterization of large-area ultrathin highly pliable free-standing PDMS membranes and their application to the study of cellular epithelia is described. The ultra-thin membranes permitted the straight forward calculation of cell monolayer moduli, derived from measured stress-strain curves. These measurements allowed the unprecedented detection of cellular-level injury in the epithelia caused by the rupture of cell-cell tight junctions in response to stretching.