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

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.

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BibTeX

@misc{maeng2026mesoscale,
  title = {{Mesoscale Soft Robotics for Mechanically Perturbing and Functionally Monitoring Responses in Human Organoids}},
  author = {W.-Y. Maeng and Z. Lv and Y. Samei and K.-H. Ha and K. S. Kim and L. P. Prabakar and I. A. Chychula and V. Iyer and B. Li and Y. Mao and S. Xu and T. W. Park and S. Li and C. W. Holgren and Y. J. Jo and H.-Y. Ahn and N. Liu and S. Yoo and S. Oh and J. Koo and E. M. McNally and I. R. Efimov and D. E. Fullenkamp and Y. Huang and J. D. Finan and J. A. Rogers},
  howpublished = {bioRxiv},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.64898/2026.10.28.762586},
  url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.28.762586v1},
  note = {CC BY},
}

RIS

TY  - UNPB
TI  - Mesoscale Soft Robotics for Mechanically Perturbing and Functionally Monitoring Responses in Human Organoids
AU  - W.-Y. Maeng
AU  - Z. Lv
AU  - Y. Samei
AU  - K.-H. Ha
AU  - K. S. Kim
AU  - L. P. Prabakar
AU  - I. A. Chychula
AU  - V. Iyer
AU  - B. Li
AU  - Y. Mao
AU  - S. Xu
AU  - T. W. Park
AU  - S. Li
AU  - C. W. Holgren
AU  - Y. J. Jo
AU  - H.-Y. Ahn
AU  - N. Liu
AU  - S. Yoo
AU  - S. Oh
AU  - J. Koo
AU  - E. M. McNally
AU  - I. R. Efimov
AU  - D. E. Fullenkamp
AU  - Y. Huang
AU  - J. D. Finan
AU  - J. A. Rogers
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/28
PB  - bioRxiv
DO  - 10.64898/2026.10.28.762586
UR  - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.28.762586v1
AB  - 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.
ER  -

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