Optical Characterization of 3D Bio-Hybrid Actuators

Bio-hybrid actuators (BHAs) integrate biological components, such as skeletal muscle cells, with synthetic materials to generate motion through external stimuli. Here, we study the use of light to remotely control 3D bio-hybrid actuators. Specifically, the employment of the amphiphilic azobenzene derivative Ziapin2 to modulate cell membrane capacitance and induce contraction has been proved to be effective for myotube in 2D planar substrates. Transitioning from 2D planar substrates to 3D scaffolds demands the full characterization of the interaction of light with the cell seeded scaffold. Scattering analysis, confocal microscopy, and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) have been effectively used to investigate and model light interaction of these 3D structures. The application of these techniques allowed us to optimize sample preparation and quantitative study the behavior, in a non-destructive way, on this new class of biomaterials. This study aims at establishing a foundation for the characterization of scalable, optically controlled 3D bio-hybrid actuators with applications in soft robotics and implantable biomedical device.