Tech News Summary:
- Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed shape-changing textile fibers that can generate force like muscles and act as scaffolds for living cells.
- The fibers consist of a rubber-like material encased in a braided sheath that can expand and contract when inflated by an air pump.
- The researchers aim to study the fibers as scaffolds for stem cells and use them to grow artificial organs in future studies.
In a groundbreaking development in the field of tissue engineering, a team of scientists has developed shape-changing artificial muscle fibers that can act as cell scaffolds. The technology promises to revolutionize the way artificial tissues are created, potentially opening up new avenues for regenerative medicine.
The team, comprising researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Connecticut, focused on creating a scaffold material that could mimic the mechanical properties of native tissues. The approach involved using electroactive polymers that respond to electrical signals and can undergo shape changes in response to external stimuli.
The researchers fabricated the muscle fibers using a process called electrospinning, which involves spinning a polymer solution that creates ultrafine fibers. By applying electrical currents to the fibers, they were able to induce shape changes in the fibers, mimicking the behavior of real muscle fibers.
The resulting scaffold material exhibited impressive mechanical properties, with the ability to stretch and contract in response to electrical signals. When cultured with cells, the scaffolds supported cell growth and differentiation, indicating their potential as functional tissue substitutes.
The significance of the development lies in its potential applications in regenerative medicine, where artificial tissues are needed to replace damaged or diseased tissues. The use of shape-changing artificial muscle fibers as scaffolds opens up new possibilities for creating more complex and physiologically relevant tissues.
The findings have been published in the journal Advanced Materials. The research team anticipates that their work will inspire further investigation into the use of electroactive materials in tissue engineering, paving the way for new therapeutic strategies in regenerative medicine.