We introduced a suite of mechanical microsystems with a relatively basic design yet complex motion. Precise control over geometric parameters facilitated detailed analysis of forces and fluid-structure interactions. We made two important discoveries. First, we showed that a single bubble can provide multiple-DOF motion along prescribed trajectories with high fidelity through applying frequency- and amplitude-modulated acoustic signals. Second, due to higher-order interactions, forces between oscillating bubbles emerge, and their amplitude and direction can be programmed by tuning the excitation frequency. For more...

We show that T-cell-mediated cancer-cell killing is hampered for cortically soft cancer cells, which have plasma membranes enriched in cholesterol, and that cancer-cell stiffening via cholesterol depletion augments T-cell cytotoxicity and enhances the efficacy of adoptive T-cell therapy against solid tumors in mice. We also show that the enhanced cytotoxicity against stiffened cancer cells is mediated by augmented T-cell forces arising from an increased accumulation of filamentous actin at the immunological synapse. For more...

We used novel microengineered devices for long-term two-photon recordings of tissues in the Drosophila thorax including sensory and motor circuits. Our toolkit consists of (i) a micromanipulator arm, (ii) a soft implant for displacing thoracic organs, (iii) a numbered, transparent window to seal the thoracic opening, and (iv) a compliant tethering stage to mount animals for two-photon imaging. Together, these tools expand the neural recording time window from only a few hours to more than one month. For more...

Acoustic actuation of bioinspired microswimmers is experimentally demonstrated. Microswimmers are fabricated in situ in a microchannel. Upon acoustic excitation, the flagellum of the microswimmer oscillates, which in turn generates linear or rotary movement depending on the swimmer design. The speed of these bioinspired microswimmers is tuned by adjusting the voltage amplitude applied to the acoustic transducer. Simple microfabrication and remote actuation are promising for biomedical applications. For more...

A soft microrobot construction kit is introduced, which constitutes untethered transducers such as pumps and rotors and a variety of machine parts. The compound micromachinery is printed as a single piece from a biocompatible hydrogel using two‐photon polymerization and actuated wirelessly using acoustic waves. Frequency‐selective acoustic excitation of several transducers on the same robot enables dexterous biomanipulation. This breakthrough offers numerous potential applications in the biomedical field, from diagnostics to therapy. For more...

A signaling pathway called cGAS-STING detects the presence of intracellular DNA as a surrogate for both cellular damage and viral infection. Meanwhile, sensing of self-DNA must be suppressed to prevent the development of autoimmune responses. Guey et al. identify BAF as a protein that competes with the cGAS for binding to genomic self-DNA. When there is a breakdown in nuclear compartmentalization, cytosolic cGAS enzymatic activity is prevented because of BAF. For more...