Actuators for culturing and harvesting cells

A system for harvesting target cells, the system comprising:

• a cell culture dish that includes one or more actuators, each actuator having a core and a shell at least partially surrounding the core that defines a longitudinal axis, the shell defining a top surface and having at least one opening,
• in a first condition, the core being positioned and dimensioned in the shell such that the top surface of the shell and the core are configured to associate with one or more target cells in culture, and
• in a second condition, the core being positioned and dimensioned in the shell such that the core is configured to expand and displace out of the shell in a direction along the longitudinal axis through the at least one opening to lift up one or more target cells in culture positioned over the core and to break an adhesion between the one or more target cells and the top surface of the shell,
• wherein at least the core comprises a stimuli-responsive polymer configured to expand or contract in response to one or more stimuli and having a first portion configured to associate with the one or more target cells in culture,
• wherein in response to a first stimulus to place the core in the first condition, the stimuli-responsive polymer is configured to contract such that the first portion of the core is substantially contained within a perimeter of the shell, and
• wherein in response to a second stimulus to place the core in the second condition, the stimuli-responsive polymer is configured to expand such that the first portion of the core expands through the at least one opening of the shell and is located outside the perimeter of the shell.