Soft Pneumatic Device Designed to Mimic the Periosteal Environment for Regulating the Fate of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (Adv. Healthcare Mater. 15/2025)

Soft Pneumatic Tissue Mimicking Device

In article 2403229, Jeong Jae Wie, Suk Ho Bhan, and co-workers introduce a cutting-edge soft pneumatic device (SPD) that mimics the complex mechanical forces of the periosteum during movement, bridging biomechanics and stem cell biology. By integrating shear stress, strain, and fluid dynamics, SPD directs mesenchymal stem/progenitor cell fate—promoting osteogenic differentiation under mild forces while inducing controlled detachment under higher loads. Unlike conventional systems, SPD preserves the extracellular matrix, offering a transformative platform for studying mechanotransduction, bone regeneration, and cell therapy.