Mesoscale Soft Robotics for Mechanically Perturbing and Functionally Monitoring Responses in Human Organoids

Human organoids represent promising models for studies of significance to the biology and medical communities. Of the existing approaches for monitoring organoids, none offers the ability to apply programmable mechanical forces while simultaneously recording multi-modal physiological responses, of relevance to phenomena spanning from traumatic brain injuries to cardiac rhythm disorders. Here, we present a mesoscale soft robotic organoid interface that enables programmable delivery of forces to organoids of diverse shapes, and to map electrophysiological activity and mechanical responses. The platform combines actuation elements with integrated sensors for quantitative measurement and control. Studies using this technology reveal that spheroidal cortical organoids exhibit distinct responses to mechanical trauma, including silencing, recovery, and changes in neuronal firing patterns. Additional experiments on cardiac ring tissues demonstrate that sustained stretching induces beat-to-beat rhythm variability and altered conduction. The results establish a framework for investigating force-triggered transitions between physiological and disease-like states in human tissue models.

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Publication Details

Journal
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Published
2026-10-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.28.762586
Primary Topic
Soft Robotics and Applications
Type
preprint

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preprint

Mesoscale Soft Robotics for Mechanically Perturbing and Functionally Monitoring Responses in Human Organoids

Igor R. Efimov, Cory W. Holgren, Seonggwang Yoo, Hak‐Young Ahn et al.
3 links
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Soft Robotics and Applications
preprint

Mesoscale Soft Robotics for Mechanically Perturbing and Functionally Monitoring Responses in Human Organoids

Igor R. Efimov, Cory W. Holgren, Seonggwang Yoo, Hak‐Young Ahn, John D. Finan, Yuxuan Mao, Binjie Li, Dominic E. Fullenkamp, Tae Wan Park, Young Jin Jo, Woo‐Youl Maeng, John A. Rogers, Ivana A. Chychula, Naijia Liu, Zengyao Lv, Elizabeth M. McNally, Vasant Iyer, Kyung Su Kim, Shupeng Li, Yasaman Samei, Kyoungho Ha, Shengwei Xu, Yonggang Huang, Jahyun Koo, Lakshmi P. Prabakar, Seyong Oh
preprint en

Abstract

Human organoids represent promising models for studies of significance to the biology and medical communities. Of the existing approaches for monitoring organoids, none offers the ability to apply programmable mechanical forces while simultaneously recording multi-modal physiological responses, of relevance to phenomena spanning from traumatic brain injuries to cardiac rhythm disorders. Here, we present a mesoscale soft robotic organoid interface that enables programmable delivery of forces to organoids of diverse shapes, and to map electrophysiological activity and mechanical responses. The platform combines actuation elements with integrated sensors for quantitative measurement and control. Studies using this technology reveal that spheroidal cortical organoids exhibit distinct responses to mechanical trauma, including silencing, recovery, and changes in neuronal firing patterns. Additional experiments on cardiac ring tissues demonstrate that sustained stretching induces beat-to-beat rhythm variability and altered conduction. The results establish a framework for investigating force-triggered transitions between physiological and disease-like states in human tissue models.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Inje University (KR), Northwestern University (US), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KR), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US), Korea University (KR), Vanderbilt University (US), University of Illinois Chicago (US), Hanyang University (KR), Vellore Institute of Technology University (IN)
Northwestern University, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
Good health and well-being
Soft Robotics and Applications
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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