The interaction between cell membranes and microelectrodes is complex. The shape of the cell’s action potential, when recorded extracellularly, depends strongly on the interface between the membrane and the metal electrode. In this project, we investigate experimentally and computationally how extracellular action potentials are shaped by the microelectrode’s nanotopography and material makeup. Understanding the cell-electrode interface is critical in achieving high signal-to-noise ratio recordings, which benefits the field of brain machine interface, toxicology screening, and more.
Device integrated into a skin model
Our Research
Adapting device engineering to in vitro human tissues toward symbiosis
We are an interdisciplinary group of mechanical, electrical, and microfluidic engineers that leverage computation and automation to design and operate devices that interface with human tissues. Our primary goal is to create devices with natural geometries to promote symbiosis with tissue constructs. To achieve this, we employ techniques from differential geometry, computational design, and multiphysics simulations in the design phase. Further, we pioneer new techniques to fabricate such devices and connect them to read-out systems to collect the data of interest from tissues.
Computational Device Design
In order to seamlessly interface in vitro tissues, devices need to adapt to irregular, 3D tissue morphologies while at the same time avoiding impeding cellular growth and self-assembly. We achieve this via Kirigami engineering — carefully shaping the geometry of very thin devices. While human intuition suffices to come up with patterns that achieve a certain function, like unfolding into a specific shape under the load imposed by the tissues, computational approaches are necessary to understand and optimize such geometries. We rely on scripted designs coupled with finite element method simulations to optimize device layout geometries.
Genetic algorithm improving the 2D layout of a device in order to achieve maximal extension under gravity with minimal mechanical strain.
Mechanical Tissue Actuation
During development, many human tissues are subjected to mechanical tension. This is a feature lacking in most instrumented devices due to the complexity of achieving precise controlled strain over long periods of time. We develop cyclical linear strain platforms to study skin pathology and their dependence on mechanical strain. In parallel, we explore non-contact mechanical actuation via magnetic forces. The latter is applied to studying cardiac infarction recovery through cyclical mechanical stimulation.
Linear stretcher platform adapted to 6 well-plate to study skin disease.
Nanopatterned Electrodes
