Cellules souches embryonnaires stimulées mécaniquement avec un tireur magnétique

Embryonic stem cells stimulated mechanically using a magnetic tissue stretcher. This device shapes and mechanically stimulates an aggregate of cells into which magnetic nanoparticles have been incorporated. The two micro-magnets, one of which is mobile, are placed either side of the resulting embryoid body, and the cyclical stimulation can be adjusted according to the type of tissue to be produced. Scientists observed that when the stimulation process generated magnetic pulses mimicking heart beats, stem cells differentiated into cardiac muscle cell precursors. This discovery addresses one of the current challenges in regenerative medicine, by making it possible to create an organised, cohesive cell assembly with no need for an extracellular matrix. Researchers have also proved that incorporating nanoparticles affects neither the function nor the differentiation capabilities of stem cells. This device is opening up new fields in biophysics research and tissue engineering.