A bioreactor with an electro-responsive elastomeric membrane for mimicking intestinal peristalsis. (5th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cei, Daniele; Costa, Joana; Gori, Giulia; Frediani, Gabriele; Domenici, Claudio; Carpi, Federico; Ahluwalia, Arti
• Is Part Of: Bioinspiration & biomimetics. Volume 12:Number 1(2017:Mar.)
• Publication Date: 2016-12-05
• Subjects: dielectric elastomer actuator -- bioreactor -- invitro model -- intestinal contraction -- artificial muscle; Biomimetics -- Periodicals; Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; Medical innovations -- Periodicals; Biomedical engineering -- Periodicals; 600
• DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/12/1/016001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1748-3182

Abstract

Abstract: This study describes an actuated bioreactor which mimics the pulsatile contractile motion of the intestinal barrier using electro-responsive elastomers as smart materials that undergo deformation upon electrical stimulation. The device consists of an annular dielectric elastomer actuator working as a radial artificial muscle able to rhythmically contract and relax a central cell culture well. The bioreactor maintained up to 4 h of actuation at a frequency of 0.15 Hz and a strain of 8%–10%, to those of the cyclic contraction and relaxation of the small intestine. In vitro tests demonstrated that the device was biocompatible and cell-adhesive for Caco-2 cells, which formed a confluent monolayer following 21 days of culture in the central well. In addition, cellular adhesion and cohesion were maintained after 4 h of continuous cyclic strain. These preliminary results encourage further investigations on the use of dielectric elastomer actuation as a versatile technology that might overcome the limitations of commercially available pneumatic driving systems to obtain bioreactors that can cyclically deform cell cultures in a biomimetic fashion.