Ultrasound-driven BioMechanics

The interplay between mechanical forces and cellular behavior is a fundamental aspect of biomechanics, driving key processes such as cell differentiation, proliferation, and tissue morphogenesis. In recent years, this relationship has garnered significant attention in the development of 3D organoids—miniature, lab-grown tissues that replicate the structure and function of human organs. Organoids hold immense potential for advancing drug discovery, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine. However, one of the primary challenges in organoid research is achieving precise control over their growth, organization, and functional maturation.

Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers (PMUTs) have emerged as a powerful tool for delivering localized, high-frequency mechanical stimuli to cellular environments. PMUT technology offers the ability to manipulate biomechanical forces in a non-invasive and highly controllable manner, influencing cellular organization and tissue architecture. This proposal seeks to leverage the unique capabilities of our custom-developed PMUT platform to direct the growth of 3D organoids through carefully controlled acoustic fields.

Specifically, this research aims to design and develop tailored PMUT arrays capable of generating precise, spatially and temporally controlled acoustic fields that interact with organoid cultures. By engineering these PMUT arrays, we will systematically modulate acoustic parameters such as frequency, amplitude, and wave patterns to guide cell behavior and tissue development within the organoids. Our platform’s flexibility will allow for the fine-tuning of acoustic stimuli, creating a highly controlled environment to optimize cellular responses and enhance organoid structural complexity.

This PhD project will focus on the development and application of these PMUT arrays to explore how directed acoustic fields can regulate organoid growth, from influencing cell migration and organization to enhancing functional maturation. By integrating our PMUT platform with advanced biofabrication techniques, we aim to push the boundaries of organoid engineering, providing novel insights into biomechanical regulation and paving the way for more sophisticated tissue models for research and clinical applications