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Uzieliene I, Popov A, Vaiciuleviciute R, Kirdaite G, Bernotiene E, Ramanaviciene A. Polypyrrole-based structures for activation of cellular functions under electrical stimulation. Bioelectrochemistry 2024; 155:108585. [PMID: 37847982 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2023.108585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Polypyrrole (Ppy) is an electroconductive polymer used in various applications, including in vitro experiments with cell cultures under electrical stimulation (ES). Ppy can be applied in various forms and most importantly, it is biocompatible with cells. Ppy specifically directs ES to cells, which makes Ppy a potential polymer for the development of novel technologies for targeted tissue regeneration. The high potential of ES in combination with different Ppy-based systems, such as hydrogels, scaffolds, or Ppy-layers is advantageous to stimulate cellular differentiation towards neurogenic, cardiac, muscle, and osteogenic lineages. Different in-house devices and the principles of ES application used to stimulate cellular functions are reviewed and summarized. The focus of this review is to observe the most relevant studies and their in-house techniques regarding the application of Ppy-based materials for the use of bone, neural, cardiac, and muscle tissue regeneration under ES. Different types of Ppy materials, such as Ppy particles, layers/films, membranes, and 3D-shaped synthetic and natural scaffolds, as well as combining Ppy with different active molecules are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilona Uzieliene
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania; Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Anton Popov
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania; NanoTechnas - Center on Nanotechnology and Materials Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, Vilnius University, Naugarduko g. 24, LT-03225 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Raminta Vaiciuleviciute
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Gailute Kirdaite
- Department of Experimental, Preventive and Clinical Medicine, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Eiva Bernotiene
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania; Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, VilniusTech, Sauletekio al. 11, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Almira Ramanaviciene
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania; NanoTechnas - Center on Nanotechnology and Materials Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, Vilnius University, Naugarduko g. 24, LT-03225 Vilnius, Lithuania.
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2
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Dark N, Cosson MV, Tsansizi LI, Owen TJ, Ferraro E, Francis AJ, Tsai S, Bouissou C, Weston A, Collinson L, Abi-Gerges N, Miller PE, MacLeod KT, Ehler E, Mitter R, Harding SE, Smith JC, Bernardo AS. Generation of left ventricle-like cardiomyocytes with improved structural, functional, and metabolic maturity from human pluripotent stem cells. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100456. [PMID: 37159667 PMCID: PMC10163040 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Decreased left ventricle (LV) function caused by genetic mutations or injury often leads to debilitating and fatal cardiovascular disease. LV cardiomyocytes are, therefore, a potentially valuable therapeutical target. Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) are neither homogeneous nor functionally mature, which reduces their utility. Here, we exploit cardiac development knowledge to instruct differentiation of hPSCs specifically toward LV cardiomyocytes. Correct mesoderm patterning and retinoic acid pathway blocking are essential to generate near-homogenous LV-specific hPSC-CMs (hPSC-LV-CMs). These cells transit via first heart field progenitors and display typical ventricular action potentials. Importantly, hPSC-LV-CMs exhibit increased metabolism, reduced proliferation, and improved cytoarchitecture and functional maturity compared with age-matched cardiomyocytes generated using the standard WNT-ON/WNT-OFF protocol. Similarly, engineered heart tissues made from hPSC-LV-CMs are better organized, produce higher force, and beat more slowly but can be paced to physiological levels. Together, we show that functionally matured hPSC-LV-CMs can be obtained rapidly without exposure to current maturation regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lorenza I. Tsansizi
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- NHLI, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Andreia S. Bernardo
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- NHLI, Imperial College London, London, UK
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3
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Gabetti S, Sileo A, Montrone F, Putame G, Audenino AL, Marsano A, Massai D. Versatile electrical stimulator for cardiac tissue engineering-Investigation of charge-balanced monophasic and biphasic electrical stimulations. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 10:1031183. [PMID: 36686253 PMCID: PMC9846083 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1031183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The application of biomimetic physical stimuli replicating the in vivo dynamic microenvironment is crucial for the in vitro development of functional cardiac tissues. In particular, pulsed electrical stimulation (ES) has been shown to improve the functional properties of in vitro cultured cardiomyocytes. However, commercially available electrical stimulators are expensive and cumbersome devices while customized solutions often allow limited parameter tunability, constraining the investigation of different ES protocols. The goal of this study was to develop a versatile compact electrical stimulator (ELETTRA) for biomimetic cardiac tissue engineering approaches, designed for delivering controlled parallelizable ES at a competitive cost. ELETTRA is based on an open-source micro-controller running custom software and is combinable with different cell/tissue culture set-ups, allowing simultaneously testing different ES patterns on multiple samples. In particular, customized culture chambers were appositely designed and manufactured for investigating the influence of monophasic and biphasic pulsed ES on cardiac cell monolayers. Finite element analysis was performed for characterizing the spatial distributions of the electrical field and the current density within the culture chamber. Performance tests confirmed the accuracy, compliance, and reliability of the ES parameters delivered by ELETTRA. Biological tests were performed on neonatal rat cardiac cells, electrically stimulated for 4 days, by comparing, for the first time, the monophasic waveform (electric field = 5 V/cm) to biphasic waveforms by matching either the absolute value of the electric field variation (biphasic ES at ±2.5 V/cm) or the total delivered charge (biphasic ES at ±5 V/cm). Findings suggested that monophasic ES at 5 V/cm and, particularly, charge-balanced biphasic ES at ±5 V/cm were effective in enhancing electrical functionality of stimulated cardiac cells and in promoting synchronous contraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Gabetti
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Antonio Sileo
- Department of Surgery and Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Federica Montrone
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Giovanni Putame
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Alberto L. Audenino
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Anna Marsano
- Department of Surgery and Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Diana Massai
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy,*Correspondence: Diana Massai,
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4
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Kałużna E, Nadel A, Zimna A, Rozwadowska N, Kolanowski T. Modeling the human heart ex vivo-current possibilities and strive for future applications. J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2022; 16:853-874. [PMID: 35748158 PMCID: PMC9796015 DOI: 10.1002/term.3335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The high organ specification of the human heart is inversely proportional to its functional recovery after damage. The discovery of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) has accelerated research in human heart regeneration and physiology. Nevertheless, due to the immaturity of iPSC-CMs, they are far from being an representative model of the adult heart physiology. Therefore, number of laboratories strive to obtain a heart tissues by engineering methods by structuring iPSC-CMs into complex and advanced platforms. By using the iPSC-CMs and arranging them in 3D cultures it is possible to obtain a human heart muscle with physiological capabilities potentially similar to the adult heart, while remaining in vitro. Here, we attempt to describe existing examples of heart muscle either in vitro or ex vivo models and discuss potential options for the further development of such structures. This will be a crucial step for ultimate derivation of complete heart tissue-mimicking organs and their future use in drug development, therapeutic approaches testing, pre-clinical studies, and clinical applications. This review particularly aims to compile available models of advanced human heart tissue for scientists considering which model would best fit their research needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Kałużna
- Institute of Human GeneticsPolish Academy of SciencesPoznanPoland
| | - Agnieszka Nadel
- Institute of Human GeneticsPolish Academy of SciencesPoznanPoland
| | - Agnieszka Zimna
- Institute of Human GeneticsPolish Academy of SciencesPoznanPoland
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5
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Printing biohybrid materials for bioelectronic cardio-3D-cellular constructs. iScience 2022; 25:104552. [PMID: 35784786 PMCID: PMC9240791 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Conductive hydrogels are emerging as promising materials for bioelectronic applications as they minimize the mismatch between biological and electronic systems. We propose a strategy to bioprint biohybrid conductive bioinks based on decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes. These inks contained conductive features and morphology of the dECM fibers. Electrical stimulation (ES) was applied to bioprinted structures containing human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs). It was observed that in the absence of external ES, the conductive properties of the materials can improve the contractile behavior of the hPSC-CMs, and this effect is enhanced under the application of external ES. Genetic markers indicated a trend toward a more mature state of the cells with upregulated calcium handling proteins and downregulation of calcium channels involved in the generation of pacemaking currents. These results demonstrate the potential of our strategy to manufacture conductive hydrogels in complex geometries for actuating purposes. Conductive biohybrid hydrogels were 3D bioprinted using the FRESH method MWCNTs increased the conductivity and fiber diameter of dECM hydrogels Bioactuating applications were explored on the bioprinted structures Material’s conductivity and external electrical stimulation improved cell contractility
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Urdeitx P, Doweidar MH. Enhanced Piezoelectric Fibered Extracellular Matrix to Promote Cardiomyocyte Maturation and Tissue Formation: A 3D Computational Model. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10020135. [PMID: 33572184 PMCID: PMC7914718 DOI: 10.3390/biology10020135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Mechanical and electrical stimuli play a key role in tissue formation, guiding cell processes such as cell migration, differentiation, maturation, and apoptosis. Monitoring and controlling these stimuli on in vitro experiments is not straightforward due to the coupling of these different stimuli. In addition, active and reciprocal cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions are essential to be considered during formation of complex tissue such as myocardial tissue. In this sense, computational models can offer new perspectives and key information on the cell microenvironment. Thus, we present a new computational 3D model, based on the Finite Element Method, where a complex extracellular matrix with piezoelectric properties interacts with cardiac muscle cells during the first steps of tissue formation. This model includes collective behavior and cell processes such as cell migration, maturation, differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. The model has employed to study the initial stages of in vitro cardiac aggregate formation, considering cell-cell junctions, under different extracellular matrix configurations. Three different cases have been purposed to evaluate cell behavior in fibered, mechanically stimulated fibered, and mechanically stimulated piezoelectric fibered extra-cellular matrix. In this last case, the cells are guided by the coupling of mechanical and electrical stimuli. Accordingly, the obtained results show the formation of more elongated groups and enhancement in cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pau Urdeitx
- Mechanical Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Architecture (EINA), University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain;
- Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Mohamed H. Doweidar
- Mechanical Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Architecture (EINA), University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain;
- Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
- Correspondence:
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A Computational Model for Cardiomyocytes Mechano-Electric Stimulation to Enhance Cardiac Tissue Regeneration. MATHEMATICS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/math8111875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Electrical and mechanical stimulations play a key role in cell biological processes, being essential in processes such as cardiac cell maturation, proliferation, migration, alignment, attachment, and organization of the contractile machinery. However, the mechanisms that trigger these processes are still elusive. The coupling of mechanical and electrical stimuli makes it difficult to abstract conclusions. In this sense, computational models can establish parametric assays with a low economic and time cost to determine the optimal conditions of in-vitro experiments. Here, a computational model has been developed, using the finite element method, to study cardiac cell maturation, proliferation, migration, alignment, and organization in 3D matrices, under mechano-electric stimulation. Different types of electric fields (continuous, pulsating, and alternating) in an intensity range of 50–350 Vm−1, and extracellular matrix with stiffnesses in the range of 10–40 kPa, are studied. In these experiments, the group’s morphology and cell orientation are compared to define the best conditions for cell culture. The obtained results are qualitatively consistent with the bibliography. The electric field orientates the cells and stimulates the formation of elongated groups. Group lengthening is observed when applying higher electric fields in lower stiffness extracellular matrix. Groups with higher aspect ratios can be obtained by electrical stimulation, with better results for alternating electric fields.
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8
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Ni L, KC P, Zhang G, Zhe J. Enabling single cell electrical stimulation and response recording via a microfluidic platform. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2019; 13:064126. [PMID: 31867086 PMCID: PMC6910869 DOI: 10.1063/1.5128884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Electrical stimulation (ES) has been recognized to play important roles in regulating cell behaviors. A microfluidic device was developed for the electrical stimulation of single cells and simultaneous recording of extracellular field potential (EFP). Each single cell was trapped onto an electrode surface by a constriction channel for ES testing and was then driven to the outlet by the pressure afterward. This design allows the application of ES on and detection of EFP of single cells continuously in a microfluidic channel. Human cardiomyocytes and primary rat cortex neurons were tested with specific ES with the device. Each cell's EFP signal was detected and analyzed during the ES process. Results have shown that after applying specific ES on the excitable single cells, the cells evoked electrical responses. In addition, increased secretion of glutamic acid was detected from the stimulated neurons. Altogether, these results indicated that the developed device can be used to continuously apply ES on and accurately determine cell responses of single cells with shorter probing time. The throughput of the measurement can achieve 1 cell per minute, which is higher than the traditional ES methods that need culturing cells or manually positioning the cells onto the electrode surface. Before and after the application of ES, the cell viability had no significant change. Such a device can be used to study the biological process of various types of cells under electrical stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwei Ni
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, USA
| | - Pawan KC
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, USA
| | - Ge Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, USA
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
| | - Jiang Zhe
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, USA
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
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9
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Ma X, Dewan S, Liu J, Tang M, Miller KL, Yu C, Lawrence N, McCulloch AD, Chen S. 3D printed micro-scale force gauge arrays to improve human cardiac tissue maturation and enable high throughput drug testing. Acta Biomater 2019; 95:319-327. [PMID: 30576862 PMCID: PMC6584548 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cell - derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) are regarded as a promising cell source for establishing in-vitro personalized cardiac tissue models and developing therapeutics. However, analyzing cardiac force and drug response using mature human iPSC-CMs in a high-throughput format still remains a great challenge. Here we describe a rapid light-based 3D printing system for fabricating micro-scale force gauge arrays suitable for 24-well and 96-well plates that enable scalable tissue formation and measurement of cardiac force generation in human iPSC-CMs. We demonstrate consistent tissue band formation around the force gauge pillars with aligned sarcomeres. Among the different maturation treatment protocols we explored, 3D aligned cultures on force gauge arrays with in-culture pacing produced the highest expression of mature cardiac marker genes. We further demonstrated the utility of these micro-tissues to develop significantly increased contractile forces in response to treatment with isoproterenol, levosimendan, and omecamtiv mecarbil. Overall, this new 3D printing system allows for high flexibility in force gauge design and can be optimized to achieve miniaturization and promote cardiac tissue maturation with great potential for high-throughput in-vitro drug screening applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The application of iPSC-derived cardiac tissues in translatable drug screening is currently limited by the challenges in forming mature cardiac tissue and analyzing cardiac forces in a high-throughput format. We demonstrate the use of a rapid light-based 3D printing system to build a micro-scale force gauge array that enables scalable cardiac tissue formation from iPSC-CMs and measurement of contractile force development. With the capability to provide great flexibility over force gauge design as well as optimization to achieve miniaturization, our 3D printing system serves as a promising tool to build cardiac tissues for high-throughput in-vitro drug screening applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanyi Ma
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Sukriti Dewan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Justin Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Min Tang
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kathleen L Miller
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Claire Yu
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Natalie Lawrence
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Andrew D McCulloch
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Shaochen Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Chemical Engineering Program, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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10
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Rodriguez ML, Beussman KM, Chun KS, Walzer MS, Yang X, Murry CE, Sniadecki NJ. Substrate Stiffness, Cell Anisotropy, and Cell-Cell Contact Contribute to Enhanced Structural and Calcium Handling Properties of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2019; 5:3876-3888. [PMID: 33438427 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.8b01256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) can be utilized to understand the mechanisms underlying the development and progression of heart disease, as well as to develop better interventions and treatments for this disease. However, these cells are structurally and functionally immature, which undermines some of their adequacy in modeling adult heart tissue. Previous studies with immature cardiomyocytes have shown that altering substrate stiffness, cell anisotropy, and/or cell-cell contact can enhance the contractile and structural maturation of hPSC-CMs. In this study, the structural and calcium handling properties of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) were enhanced by exposure to a downselected combination of these three maturation stimuli. First, hESC-CMs were seeded onto substrates composed of two commercial formulations of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), Sylgard 184 and Sylgard 527, whose stiffness ranged from 5 kPa to 101 kPa. Upon analyzing the morphological and calcium transient properties of these cells, it was concluded that a 21 kPa substrate yielded cells with the highest degree of maturation. Next, these PDMS substrates were microcontact-printed with laminin to force the cultured cells into rod-shaped geometries using line patterns that were 12, 18, or 24 μm in width. We found that cells on the 18 and 24 μm pattern widths had structural and functional properties that were superior to those on the 12 μm pattern. The hESC-CMs were then seeded onto these line-stamped surfaces at a density of 500 000 cells per 25-mm-diameter substrate, to enable the formation of cell-cell contacts at their distal ends. We discovered that this combination of culture conditions resulted in cells that were more structurally and functionally mature than those that were only exposed to one or two stimuli. Our results suggest that downselecting a combination of mechanobiological stimuli could prove to be an effective means of maturing hPSC-CMs in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marita L Rodriguez
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Kevin M Beussman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Katherine S Chun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Melissa S Walzer
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Xiulan Yang
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States.,Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Charles E Murry
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States.,Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States.,Department of Medicine/Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Nathan J Sniadecki
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States.,Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
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11
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Hitscherich P, Aphale A, Gordan R, Whitaker R, Singh P, Xie LH, Patra P, Lee EJ. Electroactive graphene composite scaffolds for cardiac tissue engineering. J Biomed Mater Res A 2018; 106:2923-2933. [DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.36481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Hitscherich
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; New Jersey Institute of Technology; Newark New Jersey
| | - Ashish Aphale
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; University of Bridgeport; Bridgeport Connecticut
| | - Richard Gordan
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine; Rutgers New Jersey Medical School; Newark New Jersey
| | - Ricardo Whitaker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; New Jersey Institute of Technology; Newark New Jersey
| | - Prabhakar Singh
- Department of Material Science and Engineering; University of Connecticut; Hartfort Connecticut
| | - Lai-hua Xie
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine; Rutgers New Jersey Medical School; Newark New Jersey
| | - Prabir Patra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; University of Bridgeport; Bridgeport Connecticut
- Department of Mechanical Engineering; University of Bridgeport; Bridgeport Connecticut
| | - Eun Jung Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; New Jersey Institute of Technology; Newark New Jersey
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12
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Koci B, Luerman G, Duenbostell A, Kettenhofen R, Bohlen H, Coyle L, Knight B, Ku W, Volberg W, Woska JR, Brown MP. An impedance-based approach using human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes significantly improves in vitro prediction of in vivo cardiotox liabilities. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2017; 329:121-127. [DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2017.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Revised: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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13
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Kolanowski TJ, Antos CL, Guan K. Making human cardiomyocytes up to date: Derivation, maturation state and perspectives. Int J Cardiol 2017; 241:379-386. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2017.03.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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14
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Gouveia PJ, Rosa S, Ricotti L, Abecasis B, Almeida HV, Monteiro L, Nunes J, Carvalho FS, Serra M, Luchkin S, Kholkin AL, Alves PM, Oliveira PJ, Carvalho R, Menciassi A, das Neves RP, Ferreira LS. Flexible nanofilms coated with aligned piezoelectric microfibers preserve the contractility of cardiomyocytes. Biomaterials 2017. [PMID: 28622605 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.05.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The use of engineered cardiac tissue for high-throughput drug screening/toxicology assessment remains largely unexplored. Here we propose a scaffold that mimics aspects of cardiac extracellular matrix while preserving the contractility of cardiomyocytes. The scaffold is based on a poly(caprolactone) (PCL) nanofilm with magnetic properties (MNF, standing for magnetic nanofilm) coated with a layer of piezoelectric (PIEZO) microfibers of poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (MNF+PIEZO). The nanofilm creates a flexible support for cell contraction and the aligned PIEZO microfibers deposited on top of the nanofilm creates conditions for cell alignment and electrical stimulation of the seeded cells. Our results indicate that MNF+PIEZO scaffold promotes rat and human cardiac cell attachment and alignment, maintains the ratio of cell populations overtime, promotes cell-cell communication and metabolic maturation, and preserves cardiomyocyte (CM) contractility for at least 12 days. The engineered cardiac construct showed high toxicity against doxorubicin, a cardiotoxic molecule, and responded to compounds that modulate CM contraction such as epinephrine, propranolol and heptanol.
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Affiliation(s)
- P José Gouveia
- CNC-Center of Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação Interdisciplinar, University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão - Pólo II, Rua Dom Francisco de Lemos, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - S Rosa
- CNC-Center of Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - L Ricotti
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant' Anna, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera (PI), Italy
| | - B Abecasis
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biologica António Xavier, New University of Lisbon, Av. da Republica, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - H V Almeida
- CNC-Center of Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - L Monteiro
- CNC-Center of Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - J Nunes
- Center for Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - F Sofia Carvalho
- CNC-Center of Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação Interdisciplinar, University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão - Pólo II, Rua Dom Francisco de Lemos, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - M Serra
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biologica António Xavier, New University of Lisbon, Av. da Republica, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - S Luchkin
- CICECO - Materials Institute of Aveiro & Physics Department, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - A Leonidovitch Kholkin
- CICECO - Materials Institute of Aveiro & Physics Department, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ural Federal University, 620000 Ekaterinburg, Russia
| | - P Marques Alves
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biologica António Xavier, New University of Lisbon, Av. da Republica, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - P Jorge Oliveira
- Instituto de Investigação Interdisciplinar, University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão - Pólo II, Rua Dom Francisco de Lemos, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - R Carvalho
- Instituto de Investigação Interdisciplinar, University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão - Pólo II, Rua Dom Francisco de Lemos, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal; Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - A Menciassi
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant' Anna, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera (PI), Italy
| | - R Pires das Neves
- CNC-Center of Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação Interdisciplinar, University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão - Pólo II, Rua Dom Francisco de Lemos, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - L Silva Ferreira
- CNC-Center of Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal.
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15
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Scuderi GJ, Butcher J. Naturally Engineered Maturation of Cardiomyocytes. Front Cell Dev Biol 2017; 5:50. [PMID: 28529939 PMCID: PMC5418234 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2017.00050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemic heart disease remains one of the most prominent causes of mortalities worldwide with heart transplantation being the gold-standard treatment option. However, due to the major limitations associated with heart transplants, such as an inadequate supply and heart rejection, there remains a significant clinical need for a viable cardiac regenerative therapy to restore native myocardial function. Over the course of the previous several decades, researchers have made prominent advances in the field of cardiac regeneration with the creation of in vitro human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte tissue engineered constructs. However, these engineered constructs exhibit a functionally immature, disorganized, fetal-like phenotype that is not equivalent physiologically to native adult cardiac tissue. Due to this major limitation, many recent studies have investigated approaches to improve pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte maturation to close this large functionality gap between engineered and native cardiac tissue. This review integrates the natural developmental mechanisms of cardiomyocyte structural and functional maturation. The variety of ways researchers have attempted to improve cardiomyocyte maturation in vitro by mimicking natural development, known as natural engineering, is readily discussed. The main focus of this review involves the synergistic role of electrical and mechanical stimulation, extracellular matrix interactions, and non-cardiomyocyte interactions in facilitating cardiomyocyte maturation. Overall, even with these current natural engineering approaches, pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes within three-dimensional engineered heart tissue still remain mostly within the early to late fetal stages of cardiomyocyte maturity. Therefore, although the end goal is to achieve adult phenotypic maturity, more emphasis must be placed on elucidating how the in vivo fetal microenvironment drives cardiomyocyte maturation. This information can then be utilized to develop natural engineering approaches that can emulate this fetal microenvironment and thus make prominent progress in pluripotent stem cell-derived maturity toward a more clinically relevant model for cardiac regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano J Scuderi
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan Butcher
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY, USA
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16
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Judd J, Lovas J, Huang GN. Isolation, Culture and Transduction of Adult Mouse Cardiomyocytes. J Vis Exp 2016. [PMID: 27685811 DOI: 10.3791/54012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cultured cardiomyocytes can be used to study cardiomyocyte biology using techniques that are complementary to in vivo systems. For example, the purity and accessibility of in vitro culture enables fine control over biochemical analyses, live imaging, and electrophysiology. Long-term culture of cardiomyocytes offers access to additional experimental approaches that cannot be completed in short term cultures. For example, the in vitro investigation of dedifferentiation, cell cycle re-entry, and cell division has thus far largely been restricted to rat cardiomyocytes, which appear to be more robust in long-term culture. However, the availability of a rich toolset of transgenic mouse lines and well-developed disease models make mouse systems attractive for cardiac research. Although several reports exist of adult mouse cardiomyocyte isolation, few studies demonstrate their long-term culture. Presented here, is a step-by-step method for the isolation and long-term culture of adult mouse cardiomyocytes. First, retrograde Langendorff perfusion is used to efficiently digest the heart with proteases, followed by gravity sedimentation purification. After a period of dedifferentiation following isolation, the cells gradually attach to the culture and can be cultured for weeks. Adenovirus cell lysate is used to efficiently transduce the isolated cardiomyocytes. These methods provide a simple, yet powerful model system to study cardiac biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Judd
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Jonathan Lovas
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Guo N Huang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco;
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17
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Maass M, Krausgrill B, Eschrig S, Kaluschke T, Urban K, Peinkofer G, Plenge TG, Oeckenpöhler S, Raths M, Ladage D, Halbach M, Hescheler J, Müller-Ehmsen J. Intramyocardially Transplanted Neonatal Cardiomyocytes (NCMs) Show Structural and Electrophysiological Maturation and Integration and Dose-Dependently Stabilize Function of Infarcted Rat Hearts. Cell Transplant 2016; 26:157-170. [PMID: 27539827 DOI: 10.3727/096368916x692870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac cell replacement therapy is a promising therapy to improve cardiac function in heart failure. Persistence, structural and functional maturation, and integration of transplanted cardiomyocytes into recipients' hearts are crucial for a safe and efficient replacement of lost cells. We studied histology, electrophysiology, and quantity of intramyocardially transplanted rat neonatal cardiomyocytes (NCMs) and performed a detailed functional study with repeated invasive (pressure-volume catheter) and noninvasive (echocardiography) analyses of infarcted female rat hearts including pharmacological stress before and 3 weeks after intramyocardial injection of 5 × 106 (low NCM) or 25 × 106 (high NCM) syngeneic male NCMs or medium as placebo (Ctrl). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Y-chromosome confirmed a fivefold higher persisting male cell number in high NCM versus low NCM after 3 weeks. Sharp electrode measurements within viable slices of recipient hearts demonstrated that transplanted NCMs integrate into host myocardium and mature to an almost adult phenotype, which might be facilitated through gap junctions between host myocardium and transplanted NCMs as indicated by connexin43 in histology. Ejection fraction of recipient hearts was severely impaired after ligation of left anterior descending (LAD; pressure-volume catheter: 39.2 ± 3.6%, echocardiography: 39.9 ± 1.4%). Repeated analyses revealed a significant further decline within 3 weeks in Ctrl and a dose-dependent stabilization in cell-treated groups. Consistently, stabilized cardiac function/morphology in cell-treated groups was seen in stroke volume, cardiac output, ventricle length, and wall thickness. Our findings confirm that cardiac cell replacement is a promising therapy for ischemic heart disease since immature cardiomyocytes persist, integrate, and mature after intramyocardial transplantation, and they dose-dependently stabilize cardiac function after myocardial infarction.
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18
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Richards DJ, Tan Y, Coyle R, Li Y, Xu R, Yeung N, Parker A, Menick DR, Tian B, Mei Y. Nanowires and Electrical Stimulation Synergistically Improve Functions of hiPSC Cardiac Spheroids. NANO LETTERS 2016; 16:4670-8. [PMID: 27328393 PMCID: PMC4994528 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b02093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The advancement of human induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiomyocyte (hiPSC-CM) technology has shown promising potential to provide a patient-specific, regenerative cell therapy strategy to treat cardiovascular disease. Despite the progress, the unspecific, underdeveloped phenotype of hiPSC-CMs has shown arrhythmogenic risk and limited functional improvements after transplantation. To address this, tissue engineering strategies have utilized both exogenous and endogenous stimuli to accelerate the development of hiPSC-CMs. Exogenous electrical stimulation provides a biomimetic pacemaker-like stimuli that has been shown to advance the electrical properties of tissue engineered cardiac constructs. Recently, we demonstrated that the incorporation of electrically conductive silicon nanowires to hiPSC cardiac spheroids led to advanced structural and functional development of hiPSC-CMs by improving the endogenous electrical microenvironment. Here, we reasoned that the enhanced endogenous electrical microenvironment of nanowired hiPSC cardiac spheroids would synergize with exogenous electrical stimulation to further advance the functional development of nanowired hiPSC cardiac spheroids. For the first time, we report that the combination of nanowires and electrical stimulation enhanced cell-cell junction formation, improved development of contractile machinery, and led to a significant decrease in the spontaneous beat rate of hiPSC cardiac spheroids. The advancements made here address critical challenges for the use of hiPSC-CMs in cardiac developmental and translational research and provide an advanced cell delivery vehicle for the next generation of cardiac repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan J. Richards
- Bioengineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Yu Tan
- Bioengineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Robert Coyle
- Bioengineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Bioengineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Ruoyu Xu
- Department of Chemistry, the James Franck Institute and the Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Nelson Yeung
- Bioengineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Arran Parker
- Bioengineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Donald R. Menick
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Gazes Cardiac Research Institute, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston SC 29425, USA
| | - Bozhi Tian
- Department of Chemistry, the James Franck Institute and the Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Ying Mei
- Bioengineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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19
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Stoppel WL, Kaplan DL, Black LD. Electrical and mechanical stimulation of cardiac cells and tissue constructs. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2016; 96:135-55. [PMID: 26232525 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2015.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Revised: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The field of cardiac tissue engineering has made significant strides over the last few decades, highlighted by the development of human cell derived constructs that have shown increasing functional maturity over time, particularly using bioreactor systems to stimulate the constructs. However, the functionality of these tissues is still unable to match that of native cardiac tissue and many of the stem-cell derived cardiomyocytes display an immature, fetal like phenotype. In this review, we seek to elucidate the biological underpinnings of both mechanical and electrical signaling, as identified via studies related to cardiac development and those related to an evaluation of cardiac disease progression. Next, we review the different types of bioreactors developed to individually deliver electrical and mechanical stimulation to cardiomyocytes in vitro in both two and three-dimensional tissue platforms. Reactors and culture conditions that promote functional cardiomyogenesis in vitro are also highlighted. We then cover the more recent work in the development of bioreactors that combine electrical and mechanical stimulation in order to mimic the complex signaling environment present in vivo. We conclude by offering our impressions on the important next steps for physiologically relevant mechanical and electrical stimulation of cardiac cells and engineered tissue in vitro.
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