Wireless and contactless biomechanic well plate for monitoring cardiac organoid and 3D-tissue contraction

Abstract Although animal models underpin cardiovascular research, their limited ability to correctly reproduce human-specific cardiac physiology has accelerated the adoption of three-dimensional (3D) human cardiac organoids and engineered heart tissues. Quantitative tracking of the mechanical behaviour of these 3D cultures provides critical insights into contractile dynamics, functional performance, disease phenotypes and pharmacological responses. However, real-time measurement of these properties remains challenging because of complex 3D geometries and subtle forces generated during contraction. Existing approaches are further constrained by low-throughput, arising from requirements for on-sensor cell cultivation, mechanical clamping or labour-intensive optical analysis. Here we introduce a bio-inspired, wireless platform that integrates ultrasensitive silicon cantilevers with a microscale liquid membrane via air-mediated coupling. Air-pressure changes generated by membrane deflection convert organoid contractility into cantilever bending, enabling non-contact, precise and high-throughput quantification of submillinewton contraction forces across multiple 3D cardiac tissues. By eliminating key experimental constraints, this system establishes a scalable framework for drug screening, electrical stimulation studies and disease modelling in human-relevant cardiac platforms.