Microgrooved ultra-thin films as building blocks of future bio-hybrid actuators

Lorenzo Vannozzi, Leonardo Ricotti, Shaikha Alyassi, Claudia Bearzi, Cesare Gargioli, Roberto Rizzi, Kinda Khalaf, Paolo Dario, Arianna Menciassi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper aims to demonstrate the possibility of exploiting poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) ultra-thin films as platforms for bio-hybrid actuation. Firstly, flat PLLA nanofilms at different concentrations (15 and 25 mg/ml in dichloromethane) were tested with contractile cardiomyocytes. The results obtained using motion vector analysis, a non-invasive method capable of estimating flow velocities on recorded videos, demonstrated that PLLA nanofilms were able to move under the contraction of muscle cells. Immunofluorescence images reflected good cell spreading, thus confirming that these films are promising matrices for bio-hybrid actuation. Subsequently, microgrooved PLLA nanofilms were fabricated, in order to drive muscle cell distribution on an anisotropic surface, thus optimizing the system's efficiency. After matrix characterization, in terms of AFM and SEM imaging, we investigated the viability and morphology of C2C12 skeletal muscle cells (a more controllable muscle cell type), 24 h after cell seeding as well as at the 7-day differentiation state.

Original languageBritish English
Title of host publication2015 37th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC 2015
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages354-357
Number of pages4
ISBN (Electronic)9781424492718
DOIs
StatePublished - 4 Nov 2015
Event37th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC 2015 - Milan, Italy
Duration: 25 Aug 201529 Aug 2015

Publication series

NameProceedings of the Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBS
Volume2015-November
ISSN (Print)1557-170X

Conference

Conference37th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC 2015
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityMilan
Period25/08/1529/08/15

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