In vitro cell stretching devices and their applications: From cardiomyogenic differentiation to tissue engineering

Mechanical stretch plays an important role in the control of cardiomyocyte behavior, as well as in the study of the mechanisms of cardiovascular function and pathology. The complexity involved in biological systems in vivo has created a need for better in vitro techniques, thus a variety of cell stretching devices have been developed for a deeper understanding of cellular responses to strain. In this review, we introduce the design, functionality, and characteristics of multiple types of cell stretching devices from two and three dimensions, then discuss the research progress of promoting cardiomyogenic differentiation of stem cells by external stretching and its application in cardiac tissue engineering.