University of Tartu

2 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Engineering

Fabrication of Carbon-Based Ionic Electromechanically Active Soft Actuators

Pille Rinne¹, Inga Põldsalu¹, Herman Klas Ratas¹, Karl Kruusamäe¹, Urmas Johanson¹, Tarmo Tamm¹, Kaija Põhako-Esko¹, Andres Punning¹, Anna-Liisa Peikolainen¹, Friedrich Kaasik¹, Indrek Must¹, Daan van den Ende², Alvo Aabloo¹

¹Intelligent Materials and Systems Lab, Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, ²Smart Interfaces & Modules Department, Philips Research

This article describes a fast and simple manufacturing process of ionic electromechanically active composite materials for actuators in biomedical, biomimetic and soft robotics applications. The key fabrication steps, their importance for the actuators' final properties, and some of the main characterization techniques are described in detail.

Neuroscience

Establishing Mixed Neuronal and Glial Cell Cultures from Embryonic Mouse Brains to Study Infection and Innate Immunity

Alistair Gamble¹, Maria Suessmilch¹, Anniek Bonestroo¹, Andres Merits², Gerard J. Graham¹, Jonathan Cavanagh¹, Julia M. Edgar¹, Marieke Pingen¹

¹School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, ²Faculty of Science and Technology, Institute of Technology, University of Tartu

This protocol presents a unique way of generating central nervous system cell cultures from embryonic day 17 mouse brains for neuro(immuno)logy research. This model can be analyzed using various experimental techniques, including RT-qPCR, microscopy, ELISA, and flow cytometry.