BioMEMS Platform for Electromechanical Stimulation of Cell Culture

A BioMEMS platform was designed and fabricated to enable electromechanical stimulation of cell cultures. The device consists of a stretchable microelectrode array embedded in a biocompatible elastomeric polymer, which is deformed by vacuum over a glass baseplate. The entire device is optically transparent and ∼1mm thick. Four cell culture wells apply electrical and/or mechanical stimulation in the range of 1–10 V/cm and 0–10% equibiaxial strain. Studies of electromechanical stimulation of cardiac myocyte precursors on this platform are proposed to elucidate mechanisms of differentiation.Copyright © 2007 by ASME