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A Versatile Automated Platform for Micro-scale Cell Stimulation Experiments
Published on: August 6, 2013
SCHEPHERD: A modular, programmable, direct current platform to control cell behavior
Yubin Lin1, Jeremy S Yodh2,3, Celeste Rodriguez4
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
Science Advances
|August 5, 2026
Summary
Direct current (dc) bioelectric fields guide cell migration and tissue development. A new universal electrobioreactor, SCHEPHERD, provides accessible tools to study these dc bioelectric phenomena.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Direct current (dc) bioelectric cues influence critical biological processes like morphogenesis, immune response, and healing.
- Electrotaxis, or electrically directed cell migration, is a key mechanism mediated by these bioelectric signals.
- A lack of standardized, accessible, and reproducible infrastructure hinders research in dc bioelectric phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a versatile and accessible tool for studying dc bioelectric cues and electrotaxis.
- To investigate the role of dc fields in cell migration and tissue dynamics.
- To expand the research community studying dc bioelectric phenomena.
Main Methods:
- Introduction of SCHEPHERD, a universal electrobioreactor with eight stimulation channels and modular inserts.
- Utilizing SCHEPHERD for various electrotaxis assays, including cells, monolayers, and 3D spheroids.
- Employing parameter sweeps, live confocal imaging, and multipolar inserts to analyze electrical field effects.
Main Results:
- SCHEPHERD demonstrated that dc fields effectively steer and modulate cell migration.
- Live imaging revealed electrically reprogrammed F-actin dynamics in response to dc stimulation.
- Multipolar inserts generated complex electrical patterns that reorganized engineered tissue dynamics.
Conclusions:
- SCHEPHERD significantly enhances accessibility to dc bioelectric research through its modularity and open-source design.
- The developed platform facilitates the study of dc field effects on cell migration and tissue organization.
- This work aims to broaden community engagement in the investigation of crucial dc bioelectric phenomena.
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