Bioelectric stimulation controls tissue shape and size.

Epithelial tissues sheath organs and electro-mechanically regulate ion and water transport to regulate development, homeostasis, and hydrostatic organ pressure. Here, we demonstrate how external electrical stimulation allows us to control these processes in living tissues. Specifically, we electrically stimulate hollow, 3D kidneyoids and gut organoids and find that physiological-strength electrical stimulation of ∼ 5 - 10 V/cm powerfully inflates hollow tissues; a process we call electro-inflation.

Overriding native cell coordination enhances external programming of collective cell migration.

As collective cell migration is essential in biological processes spanning development, healing, and cancer progression, methods to externally program cell migration are of great value. However, problems can arise if the external commands compete with strong, preexisting collective behaviors in the tissue or system. We investigate this problem by applying a potent external migratory cue-electrical stimulation and electrotaxis-to primary mouse skin monolayers where we can tune cell-cell adhesion strength to modulate endogenous collectivity.

Come together: On-chip bioelectric wound closure.

There is a growing interest in bioelectric wound treatment and electrotaxis, the process by which cells detect an electric field and orient their migration along its direction, has emerged as a potential cornerstone of the endogenous wound healing response. Despite recognition of the importance of electrotaxis in wound healing, no experimental demonstration to date has shown that the actual closing of a wound can be accelerated solely by the electrotaxis response itself, and in vivo systems are too complex to resolve cell migration from other healing stages such as proliferation and inflammation. This uncertainty has led to a lack of standardization between stimulation methods, model systems, and electrode technology required for device development.

SCHEEPDOG: Programming Electric Cues to Dynamically Herd Large-Scale Cell Migration.

Directed cell migration is critical across biological processes spanning healing to cancer invasion, yet no existing tools allow real-time interactive guidance over such migration. We present a new bioreactor that harnesses electrotaxis-directed cell migration along electric field gradients-by integrating four independent electrodes under computer control to dynamically program electric field patterns, and hence steer cell migration. Using this platform, we programmed and characterized multiple precise, two-dimensional collective migration maneuvers in renal epithelia and primary skin keratinocyte ensembles.