McGill Researchers Use Vibrations to Strengthen Lab-Grown Tissues

Scientists from McGill University's Department of Mechanical Engineering have discovered a safe and low-cost method to engineer living materials, such as tissues, organs, and blood clots, through vibrations. The findings, published in Advanced Functional Materials, could open new innovative applications for organ transplantation, wound healing, and regenerative medicine.

The research team used a speaker to apply controlled vibrations, which guided how cells organize and how strong or weak the final product could become. Unlike previous methods relying on magnets or ultrasound, this new technique proved widely adaptable and safe. “Mechanical nudging allows us to make the material up to four times stronger or weaker, depending on what we need it to do,” said Aram Bahmani, study co-author and a Yale postdoctoral fellow.

A series of tests on blood-based gels, plasma, and seaweed-derived alginate showed the technique works both in the lab and inside the body without harming healthy tissues. The researchers believe the method could eventually be integrated into medical devices such as smart bandages or portable tools to stop bleeding. Bahmani said that further testing and regulatory approval will be needed before the vibration method can be used in real-life clinical settings.

For more information, read the article from McGill University.