title: Surface acoustic waves induced micropatterning of cells in gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels.
abstract: Acoustic force patterning is an emerging technology that provides a platform to control the spatial location of cells in a rapid, accurate, yet contactless manner. However, very few studies have been reported on the usage of acoustic force patterning for the rapid arrangement of biological objects, such as cells, in a three-dimensional (3D) environment. In this study, we report on a bio-acoustic force patterning technique, which uses surface acoustic waves (SAWs) for the rapid arrangement of cells within an extracellular matrix-based hydrogel such as gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA). A proof-of-principle was achieved through both simulations and experiments based on the in-house fabricated piezoelectric SAW transducers, which enabled us to explore the effects of various parameters on the performance of the built construct. The SAWs were applied in a fashion that generated standing SAWs (SSAWs) on the substrate, the energy of which subsequently was transferred into the gel, creating a rapid, and contactless alignment of the cells (<10 s, based on the experimental conditions). Following ultraviolet radiation induced photo-crosslinking of the cell encapsulated GelMA pre-polymer solution, the patterned cardiac cells readily spread after alignment in the GelMA hydrogel and demonstrated beating activity in 5-7 days. The described acoustic force assembly method can be utilized not only to control the spatial distribution of the cells inside a 3D construct, but can also preserve the viability and functionality of the patterned cells (e.g. beating rates of cardiac cells). This platform can be potentially employed in a diverse range of applications, whether it is for tissue engineering, in vitro cell studies, or creating 3D biomimetic tissue structures.
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials Innovation Research Center, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Brigham Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, United States. Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States. Division of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Rankine Building, 78 Oakfield Avenue, Glasgow G12 8LT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Shahid M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Naseer
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manbachi
authors.forename: Mohamadmahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samandari
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Walch
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yu Shrike
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Farideh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Davoudi
authors.forename: Wesley
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abrinia
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khademhosseini
authors.forename: Su Ryon
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D013016:Sound; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers; D005780:Gelatin