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Leveraging microtopography to pattern multi-oriented muscle actuators.

Tamara Rossy¹, Laura Schwendeman¹, Sonika Kohli¹

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. ritur@mit.edu.

Biomaterials Science

|March 14, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

A new simple templating of actuators via micro-topographical patterning (STAMP) method enables cost-effective, precise micro-patterning of hydrogels. This technique precisely aligns skeletal muscle fibers for advanced biohybrid robots and drug screening applications.

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Area of Science:

Biomaterials Engineering
Tissue Engineering
Robotics

Background:

Precise alignment of skeletal muscle tissue is crucial for applications like drug screening and biohybrid robotics.
Current methods for micro-patterning hydrogels are expensive, complex, and prone to errors.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a simple, cost-effective, and accessible method for micro-patterning hydrogels.
To enable precise control over skeletal muscle fiber alignment for enhanced functionality.

Main Methods:

Developed STAMP (simple templating of actuators via micro-topographical patterning), a one-step hydrogel patterning technique using 3D printed stamps.
Demonstrated STAMP's ability to pattern various microtopographies on hydrogel surfaces.
Utilized optogenetic skeletal muscle fibers on STAMPed substrates to create a biohybrid iris robot.

Main Results:

STAMP precisely controlled the alignment of mouse and human skeletal muscle fibers without compromising maturation or function.
Successfully fabricated a planar biohybrid iris robot capable of pupil constriction via selective light stimulation.
Computational modeling validated the experimental outcomes, confirming the method's robustness.

Conclusions:

STAMP offers a versatile and accessible approach for fabricating micro-patterned hydrogels.
The technique facilitates the development of advanced biohybrid actuators and robots with complex motions.
STAMP is a robust platform for designing, fabricating, and testing novel biohybrid systems.