Biocompatible Platforms for Mechanical Manipulation and Stiffness Quantification of Bioengineered Tissues in the Micro-Meso Scale

Abstract

Microdevices reduce the materials needed to fabricate the device and the biomaterials involved in testing, allowing further investigations at a fractional cost. Targeted biocompatible platforms for stiffness characterization applications are presented in this dissertation in tensile and compressive manners, where the bio-sample mechanical properties were accurately determined on micro-meso scales with customized precision micro tools. This dissertation's platforms, methods, fabrication, and results can significantly contribute to the biomedical, biomechanical, biological, biomaterials, biochemical, and regenerative engineering fields, where bulk mechanical characterization is of interest. In addition, the device fabrication methods may be attractive to soft membrane-micro 3D robotics, actuators, sensors, and force transfer applications, while the bio-sample fabrication methods may be beneficial to the biomaterials, biological, therapeutic, and regenerative engineering fields.