Guidance of cellular nematic elastomers into shape-programmable living surfaces

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Soft Robotics
• Synthetic Biology

Background:

• Engineering living materials for autonomous shape change is key for synthetic morphogenesis and soft robotics.
• Harnessing cellular self-organization and force generation is a promising approach.
• Controlling tissue mechanics to direct morphogenesis remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a strategy for programming tissue-shape transformations using nematic organization of cellular forces.
• To demonstrate control over tissue mechanics via nematic order and topological defects.
• To establish a framework for designing shape-programmable living surfaces.

Main Methods:

• Programming tissue-shape transformations through nematic organization of cellular forces.
• Controlling nematic order and topological defects to generate specific stress fields.
• Utilizing a theoretical framework coupling contractile nematics with thin-sheet mechanics.

Main Results:

• Nematically guided active stresses can drive morphogenesis through Gaussian morphing.
• Detachment of nematic tissues triggers reproducible out-of-plane deformations.
• Generated reproducible three-dimensional shapes from engineered living materials.

Conclusions:

• The developed strategy enables programming of tissue-shape transformations.
• The approach integrates contractility and nematic patterning for shape control.
• This work establishes a framework for designing shape-programmable living surfaces.