Thomas Bifano

Tissue Exercise Machine

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Design and build a compact machine that can operate in an incubator at 37°C, 100%RH, 5%CO2, and can provide periodic cyclic strain to engineered cardiac tissues. Explore whether tissue mechanical stimulation changes tissue response, especially spontaneous twitch force. Assuming an effect, delimit the conditions of stimulation that most impact tissue twitch force.

LABORATORY MENTOR
Marshall Ma 

RESEARCH GOALS
Understand the role of mechanical stimulation on the maturation of engineered cardiac tissues. Currently, we know that electrical and chemical stimulation impact maturity to an extent. We would like to know whether mechanical stimulation has a similar effect.

LEARNING GOALS
• Understand tissue mechanics
• Electromechanical actuation
• Real-time control
• Experimental biology 

TIMELINE
Weeks 1-3: Problem statement, conceptual design, modeling
Weeks 4-6: Construction and testing of the apparatus.

Learn more about Professor Bifano on his faculty page.