A soft sensor-integrated cell stretching device for precise and reproducible mechanotransduction
Data files
Feb 03, 2026 version files 6.01 MB
Abstract
Mechanical stretch is a fundamental regulator of cell fate, yet in-vitro replication remains challenging because conventional stretchers deliver non-uniform strain and ignore batch-to-batch variations in substrate stiffness—so the stress actually experienced by cells varies unpredictably. We introduce the first biaxial cell-stretching platform that couples an embedded soft resistive micro-channel sensor with high-frequency closed-loop control. Real-time deformation read-out (60 Hz) drives a 24 kHz actuator loop to compensate for PDMS moduli spanning an order of magnitude, delivering user-defined triangular or square waveforms (5–20 % amplitude; 0.5–10 s period) with < 2 % steady-state error. Closed-loop operation maintains strain-invariant membrane stress within ± 5 %, reducing well-to-well variability three-fold compared with open-loop actuation. Biological validation using immortalized human myoblasts exposed to 10 % cyclic stretch for 4 h produced a significant up-regulation of YAP/TAZ target genes (C-MYC, MYL9, DIAPH1, ANKRD1; p < 0.001), confirming mechanotransductive efficacy. The platform’s modular architecture accommodates stiffness-tunable hydrogels and live imaging, offering a reproducible tool for mechanobiology, tissue engineering, disease modelling and personalised mechanotherapy.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.bvq83bkmw
Description of the data and file structure
This repository contains MATLAB code and dataset used in the study:
Duz, N., Ozturk, E., Akar, S., Kumbay Yildiz, S., Dincer, P., & Uyanik, I.
"A Soft Sensor-Integrated Cell Stretching Device for Precise and Reproducible Mechanotransduction"
There are 7 folders inside the dataset, that contains the cell attachment data, mRNA of YAP genes data, triple soft sensor data, triangular and square waveforms applied to the soft sensor data (tri-squ data), uniaxial and biaxial stretching of the soft sensor data (uni-bi data), closed-loop control using soft sensor (stress based) and open-loop control (strain based) stretching data (stress-strain data), and finally the visualization of displacements on validation membrane data (heatmap data). The data in the folders have been used in the manuscripts as in the matlab scripts in the corresponding folder.
Files and variables
File: Soft_Sensor-Integrated_Cell_Stretching_Device_Data.zip
Description: The dataset is divided into seven parts:
-Cell attachment and proliferation data
This section includes quantitative data related to cell adhesion and
proliferation on the stretching membrane. All measurements were obtained
from static (non-stretched) control groups and are used to assess the
biocompatibility of the membrane and soft sensor materials.
-mRNA levels of YAP-responsive genes data
This dataset contains gene expression results obtained from cell stretching
experiments. The data specifically report relative mRNA expression levels
of YAP-responsive markers and are used to evaluate mechanotransduction
responses under different stretching conditions.
-Triple sensor data
This section includes data collected from experiments in which three
microchannels were embedded into a single soft strain sensor. The dataset
was used to investigate strain and stress uniformity across the sensor
surface under mechanical stretching.
-Triangular and Square waveforms data
This dataset includes time-series measurements obtained by applying
triangular and square strain-stress waveforms to the soft sensor. The data
are used to analyze the sensor response and dynamic behavior under
different waveform profiles.
-Uniaxial and biaxial stretching data
This section contains data collected from experiments applying strain-stress
along a single axis (uniaxial) and along two orthogonal axes (biaxial). The
dataset enables direct comparison of mechanical response and strain
distribution between uniaxial and biaxial stretching modes.
-Closed-loop and open-loop controlled data
This dataset corresponds to the proposed closed-loop, sensor-controlled cell
stretching system. Soft sensor feedback was used for real-time strain
regulation, and the data are used to evaluate control accuracy and system
performance.
-Heatmap data
This dataset includes the data used to generate the heatmap figures
presented in the manuscript. The displacements of tracked blobs on the
validation membrane were measured and spatially interpolated to obtain
smooth strain maps. The mean and variance of the resulting heatmaps were
computed and reported in the paper to compare different substrates and
stretching methods.
Each of the seven datasets listed above is discussed in the paper. For soft sensor related datasets, the MATLAB .m files include the code used to generate the figures presented in the paper. For others (Cell attachment and mRNA level data) the data in the .csv files have been used with GraphPad Prism and visualized in the manuscript.
Code/software
MATLAB 2023b or later
Notes
- Each folder includes raw data and plotting scripts.
- For any questions or clarifications, please contact the corresponding author of the paper.