WSS Funding
Source : https://mediatheque.epfl.ch
Motivation and goal
The human bladder is an expandable muscular organ which stores urine and help in its flow control. Various diseases like bladder obstruction can occur that prevent the balder from a proper function. To develop new treatments, including personalised healthcare, a better understanding and more patient-oriented way of drug development and testing is needed.
Chosen approach
In vitro studies provide a solid foundation for conducting these tests. However, standard in vitro studies do not allow for the analysis of human bladder cells, as cell dedifferentiation occurs. External stimulation can prevent this dedifferentiation of bladder cells. Possible stimulations include electrical or mechanical stimulation.
Current state of the research
In this project, we are working on the realization of a soft actuator, so-called artificial bio-bladder, which is suitable for in vitro studies of cells and simultaneously allows for the stimulation of bladder cells. We rely on dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) as driving actuators for deformation. In addition to actuation, control, and monitoring of the cells using the soft actuator will increase the usefulness and also simplify the cell culture process.
Future work
All in all, we aim to explore the limits of the capabilities of DEAs in terms of fabrication processes and expand them as much as possible in the field of biomedicine.