Mechanical stimulation devices for mechanobiology studies: a market, literature, and patents review

Abstract

Significant advancements in various research and technological fields have contributed to remarkable findings on the physiological dynamics of the human body. To more closely mimic the complex physiological environment, research has moved from two-dimensional (2D) culture systems to more sophisticated three-dimensional (3D) dynamic cultures. Unlike bioreactors or microfluidic-based culture models, cells are typically seeded on polymeric substrates or incorporated into 3D constructs which are mechanically stimulated to investigate cell response to mechanical stresses, such as tensile or compressive. This review focuses on the working principles of mechanical stimulation devices currently available on the market or custom-built by research groups or protected by patents and highlights the main features still open to improvement. These are the features which could be focused on to perform, in the future, more reliable and accurate mechanobiology studies. Graphic abstract

Electroactive 4D Porous Scaffold Based on Conducting Polymer as a Responsive and Dynamic In Vitro Cell Culture Platform

“…59 As cells experienced about 10% mechanical deformation through the scaffold during contraction and expansion cycles, the deformation of the polyHIPE/PEDOT scaffold and the induced cell response are in the same range of 2.5−24% deformation as in various studies describing the application of external tensile and compressive forces or shear stress. 1,62 Compared to other dynamic systems such as deformable substrates, 63,64 electronic patches, 65 or commercial devices such as Flexcell 66 or MechanoCulture, 67 which permit uniaxial deformation, the motion of the polyHIPE/PEDOT scaffold is multiaxial. It confers on the 3D porous polyHIPE/PEDOT scaffolds a full 4D dynamic and reversible microenvironment for cell culture.…”

“…In vivo , cells reside in a complex and dynamic 3D microenvironment, providing both structural and functional support. , The cell microenvironment includes a wide variety of biochemical and biophysical cues that orchestrate cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and migration . In turn, the properties of the cell microenvironment constantly change under the influence of cells.…”

“…16 In a constant effort to better mimic the cell environment in vitro, mechanical stimulation devices were introduced within 3D scaffolds to stimulate cells through deformation of the material. 1,22 Compression, tension, or shear stresses trigger mechanotransduction within cells, a process in which the mechanical input is converted into a biological response. Nevertheless, most of these devices rely on applying external deformations to passive scaffolds and they fail to properly mimic the dynamic properties of the in vivo environment.…”

Unveiling Mechanobiology: A Compact Device for Uniaxial Mechanical Stimulation on Nanofiber Substrates and Its Impact on Cellular Behavior and Nanoparticle Distribution

“…One of the simplest and earliest mechanical actuation platforms among them are uniaxial mechanical stretching devices, where a substrate is attached on one side to a fixed clamp and a moving clamp on its other side is uniaxially stretched using an attrition strategy; it can either be manual or can be motor controlled . Motor-controlled devices gained popularity in the development of such devices because of their precision and repeatability.…”

“…3 One of the simplest and earliest mechanical actuation platforms among them are uniaxial mechanical stretching devices, where a substrate is attached on one side to a fixed clamp and a moving clamp on its other side is uniaxially stretched using an attrition strategy; it can either be manual or can be motor controlled. 4 Motor-controlled devices gained popularity in the development of such devices because of their precision and repeatability. Many commercially available sources provided such mechanical attrition platforms, including Cell Stretching Bioreactors from Flexcell International, 5 C Stretch systems from IonOptrix, 6 Biomatrix stretcher, 7 and many more.…”