Dresden 2026 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 37: Tissue Mechanics II
BP 37.1: Talk
Friday, March 13, 2026, 09:30–09:45, BAR/0106
Active rheology and feedback-controlled stress in a multi-purpose platform for tissue mechanics — •Anna Mukhina1,2, Till Muenker1, Mattias Luber1, Polina Malova1,2, and Timo Betz1,2 — 1Third Institute of Physics - Biophysics, University of Goettingen — 2Max Planck School Matter to Life
3D tissue engineering offers unique opportunities to study simplified, but accurate models of complex biological systems, where especially force generation, mechanical properties, and active regulation can be addressed. However, most current methods to raise engineered tissues do not allow quantitative characterization of their mechanics without a strong perturbation of these delicate systems.
Here, we present a novel experimental platform to apply well-defined strain to tissues and measure the resulting forces with an optical readout. Tissues are grown between flexible posts, where one post can be actuated by a piezo bending element, and direct optical detection of both posts movement allows for precise force and strain measurement. With this setup, we avoid complex microscopy measurements, can position the system in an incubator, and the rapid readout enables a large variety of experimental protocols. The system can conduct oscillatory rheology, simulate isometric/eccentric contractions, reproduce changes in environmental stiffness during physiological and pathological processes, and adapt stress or strain to mechanical changes of the system. We demonstrate the potential of the developed setup by carrying out oscillatory rheology of engineered skeletal muscles over the course of their maturation, covering three orders of frequency magnitude.
Keywords: tissue mechanics; mechanical load; oscillatory rheology; engineered muscles