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Self-assembled microdevices driven by muscle

Nature Materials volume 4, pages 180–184 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Current procedures for manual extraction of mature muscle tissue in micromechanical structures are time consuming and can damage the living components. To overcome these limitations, we have devised a new system for assembling muscle-powered microdevices based on judicious manipulations of materials phases and interfaces. In this system, individual cells grow and self-assemble into muscle bundles that are integrated with micromechanical structures and can be controllably released to enable free movement. Having realized such an assembly with cardiomyocytes we demonstrate two potential applications: a force transducer able to characterize in situ the mechanical properties of muscle and a self-assembled hybrid (biotic/abiotic) microdevice that moves as a consequence of collective cooperative contraction of muscle bundles. Because the fabrication of silicon microdevices is independent of the subsequent assembly of muscle cells, this system is highly versatile and may lead to the integration of cells and tissues with a variety of other microstructures.

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Figure 1: Diagram of the fabrication processes for the self-assembled muscle-MEMS system.
Figure 2: SEM Images of a cantilever array.
Figure 3: Digitized video images of the released states of a single-muscle cell bundle attached to a 400-μm-long cantilever.
Figure 4: Diagram showing the fabrication of the self-assembled microdevices powered by muscle.
Figure 5: Microscope images showing the sequential movement of the microdevice during one step.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Robert S. Ross, Jane Chen and Shane Antrobus at UCLA for the cells and Cassanna Ouellette for the graphic images. We thank Neves Hercules, Benjamin M. Wu, Chinh-Ming Ho, Toshikazu Hamasaki and Earl Homsher for suggestions of revising the paper. Supporter by Center for Cell Mimetic Space Exploration (CMISE), a NASA University Research, Engineering and Technology Institute (URETI), under award number NCC 2-1364.

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  1. UCLA Department of Bioengineering, 7523 Boelter Hall, 420 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, 90095-1600, California, USA

    Jianzhong Xi, Jacob J. Schmidt & Carlo D. Montemagno

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  1. Jianzhong Xi
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  2. Jacob J. Schmidt
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  3. Carlo D. Montemagno
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Correspondence to Jianzhong Xi or Carlo D. Montemagno.

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Xi, J., Schmidt, J. & Montemagno, C. Self-assembled microdevices driven by muscle. Nature Mater 4, 180–184 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1308

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