Patterning nerves using sound waves

What is it about?

The making of tissues for regenerative medicine sometimes requires accurate positioning of cells. Here we demonstrate the usability of forces mediated by sound to manipulate cells to create complex, tartan-like patterns. This is based on creating a sound landscape using a heptagon shaped device. This device and shape allows to switch patterns easily. We test the usefulness of cells arranged by sound to create strings of cells which then guide the regeneration of injured peripheral nerve cells.

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Why is it important?

The development of acoustic cell-paterning has application in cell biology and medicine, where the ordered placement of cells within 2, and 3-dimensional defined context are important e.g. to investigate cell type specific interactions, and to deliver ways to print tissues and organs for regenerative medicine. The application which we aim to develop base on the current work are 3D structured linear arrays of gel embedded Schwann cells as a means to aid peripheral nerve regeneration.