Research Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv, HaMerkaz, Israel
Abstract: Most tissues in the human body are constantly subjected to mechanical stress, which is crucial for proper functioning (e.g., forces in the heart) and plays a significant role when tissues are damaged (e.g., in traumatic brain injury). While mechano-physiological forces are essential for tissue functionality, replicating these forces in vitro remains a major challenge— particularly when aiming to apply external forces without direct cell contact while preserving cell viability and functionality over time. Existing methods have sought to address this challenge, but none have fully achieved dynamic, non-contact force application with adjustable parameters. This research presents a modular platform capable of inducing external forces on cells without direct physical interaction. The platform provides precise control over force magnitude, duration, and applicability across various cell types, enabling to induce physiological forces to mimic both healthy and disease conditions. Two case studies are highlighted: Healthy conditions (Heart-load): The platform successfully mimicked pressure-volume (PV) loops in vitro, demonstrating a strong correlation with in vivo data; Disease conditions (Traumatic brain injury): The same platform was used to simulate mechanical injuries, providing new insights into neuronal responses to trauma. This versatile platform is not limited to a specific tissue type, offering a powerful tool for simulating in vivo mechanical forces in various biological contexts and extracting unique insights that are unattainable with existing methodologies.
