AUTHOR=Imboden Matthias , Chen Sophia , Gudozhnik Olexandr , Pollock Corey , Javor Josh , Bishop David , Shea Herbert , Rosset Samuel 

TITLE=The Integration of Optical Stimulation in a Mechanically Dynamic Cell Culture Substrate

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2022.934756

DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2022.934756

ISSN=2296-4185

ABSTRACT=<p>A cell culture well with integrated mechanical and optical stimulation is presented. This is achieved by combining dielectric elastomer soft actuators, also known as artificial muscles, and a varifocal micro-electromechanical mirror that couples light from an optical fiber and focuses it onto the transparent cell substrate. The device enables unprecedented control of <italic>in vitro</italic> cell cultures by allowing the experimenter to tune and synchronize mechanical and optical stimuli, thereby enabling new experimental assays in optogenetics, fluorescent microscopy, or laser stimulation that include dynamic mechanical strain as a controlled input parameter.</p>