Cell origami: self-folding of three-dimensional cell-laden microstructures driven by cell traction force

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Tissue Engineering
• Cellular Mechanics

Background:

• 3D cell culture models are crucial for understanding cellular behavior and disease.
• Existing methods for creating 3D cell structures can be complex and material-intensive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, biocompatible method for fabricating 3D cell-laden microstructures.
• To utilize cell traction force (CTF) as a biological driving force for self-folding microstructures.

Main Methods:

• A technique combining origami folding principles with CTF was employed.
• 2D microplates were patterned and seeded with cells, which generated CTF.
• Upon detachment from a substrate, CTF induced self-folding of the microplates into 3D structures.

Main Results:

• Successfully generated various 3D cell-laden microstructures by altering 2D plate geometry.
• Demonstrated mass-production capability without compromising cell viability.
• The method is material-agnostic and highly biocompatible.

Conclusions:

• This CTF-driven origami technique offers a simple, efficient, and biocompatible approach for 3D cell-laden microstructure fabrication.
• The method holds significant potential for applications in 3D cell analysis and the development of self-assembled cell-based micro-medical devices.