Investigating Tissue Mechanics in vitro Using Untethered Soft Robotic Microdevices

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Robotics

Background:

• Soft robotic devices offer advantages in biological applications due to their compliance and safety.
• Remote powering and wireless operation are critical for minimizing disruption to biological systems.
• Precise application of mechanical stimuli is essential for understanding cell behavior and tissue development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, fabricate, and operate a novel soft robotic compression device.
• To enable remote powering via laser illumination for wireless operation.
• To develop a system capable of applying physiologically relevant mechanical loading to biological specimens.

Main Methods:

• Utilized hybrid nanomaterials for rapid, wireless response.
• Employed microengineering techniques for device fabrication.
• Fabricated passive hydrogel structures via single-step *in situ* polymerization.
• Developed computationally guided designs for the compression mechanism.
• Integrated a cantilever beam for *in situ* monitoring of cell clusters.

Main Results:

• Successfully designed and operated a laser-powered soft robotic compression device.
• Demonstrated the ability to apply physiologically relevant mechanical loading.
• Achieved seamless integration of the device with biological specimens.
• Validated the mechanical and biochemical compatibility of materials with living cells.

Conclusions:

• The developed soft robotic device offers a novel platform for remote, wireless mechanical stimulation of biological samples.
• The combination of nanomaterials, microengineering, and hydrogel fabrication enables precise and biocompatible cell manipulation.
• The integrated monitoring system facilitates real-time assessment of cellular responses to mechanical stimuli, advancing research in mechanobiology.