Environmentally Responsive Microstructured Hybrid Actuator Assemblies For Use in Mechanical Stimulation of Cells

摘要

A method for mechanical stimulation of cells includes providing a substrate comprising a plurality of microactuators embedded in an environmentally responsive hydrogel polymer layer disposed on a region of the surface; adhering at least one cell to the substrate; and exposing the environmentally responsive hydrogel polymer layer to a stimulus, the stimulus changing a volume of the environmentally responsive hydrogel polymer layer from a first volume to a second volume and thereby moving the microactuators from a first position to a second position, wherein the movement of the microactuators provides localized mechanical force directly to cells on the substrate.