A Microfabricated Multiple Actuation Device for Mechanical Conditioning of 3D Microtissues

We have recently demonstrated an approach that enables mechanical stimulation of microtissues via magnetic actuation of magnetic microspheres bonded to one of the cantilevers in each device (ALL THREE ZHAO REFS). This has notably allowed measurement of the mechanical stiffness of such constructs, and hence analysis of the relative contribution of cells and matrix to relevant mechanical properties, and also (ZHAOADVMAT) investigations of he role of boundary conditions and mechanical constraints on tissue formation (ZHAOBIOMAT). While these results to date have demonstrated the potential of magnetically driven microtissue constructs, they have been achieved via successive actuation of individual microtissues with an electromagnetic tweezer device (REF LIN Nanotech). However, such an approach suffers from low throughput, and also requires invasive probing as the pole tip of the electromagnet must be inserted into the culture media, and thus the full potential of the array of µTUG devices is not realized. Here we describe an approach wherein simultaneous magnetically-driven mechanical actuation of an array of microtissues can be achieved.

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