Mechanical and Electrical Stimulation of Tissue Engineered Skeletal Muscle

Schmoyer, Lara; Seagrave, Nicholas Walter; Njilabu, Deborah Kalambayi; Huynh, Lyra; Antonelli, Michael

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Mechanical and Electrical Stimulation of Tissue Engineered Skeletal Muscle

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1.7 billion people worldwide are affected by musculoskeletal conditions, and 90% of drugs fail phase 2 clinical trials due to lack of efficacy or unexpected muscular effects. Animal models and current 2D and 3D in vitro models aren't accurate portrayals of in vivo human muscles. This project created a multi-well device to grow and mature 3D musculoskeletal tissues for drug testing and disease modeling by mechanically and electrically stimulating the tissues, simulating in vivo conditions. This design used microposts and air chambers with pumps to deflect the microposts, mechanically stimulating the tissue. It also used electrodes to electrically stimulate the tissue. The device was tested and shown that it had significant potential for successfully maturing 3D musculoskeletal tissue.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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