1
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Zhang Y, Wang Y, Yin H, Wang J, Liu N, Zhong S, Li L, Zhang Q, Yue T. Strain sensor on a chip for quantifying the magnitudes of tensile stress on cells. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2024; 10:88. [PMID: 38919164 PMCID: PMC11196625 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-024-00719-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
During cardiac development, mechanotransduction from the in vivo microenvironment modulates cardiomyocyte growth in terms of the number, area, and arrangement heterogeneity. However, the response of cells to different degrees of mechanical stimuli is unclear. Organ-on-a-chip, as a platform for investigating mechanical stress stimuli in cellular mimicry of the in vivo microenvironment, is limited by the lack of ability to accurately quantify externally induced stimuli. However, previous technology lacks the integration of external stimuli and feedback sensors in microfluidic platforms to obtain and apply precise amounts of external stimuli. Here, we designed a cell stretching platform with an in-situ sensor. The in-situ liquid metal sensors can accurately measure the mechanical stimulation caused by the deformation of the vacuum cavity exerted on cells. The platform was applied to human cardiomyocytes (AC16) under cyclic strain (5%, 10%, 15%, 20 and 25%), and we found that cyclic strain promoted cell growth induced the arrangement of cells on the membrane to gradually unify, and stabilized the cells at 15% amplitude, which was even more effective after 3 days of culture. The platform's precise control and measurement of mechanical forces can be used to establish more accurate in vitro microenvironmental models for disease modeling and therapeutic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyin Zhang
- School of Mechatronics Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Wang
- School of Future Technology, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology of Zhejiang Province, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongze Yin
- School of Mechatronics Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiahao Wang
- School of Mechatronics Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Na Liu
- School of Mechatronics Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Intelligent Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Songyi Zhong
- School of Mechatronics Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
- School of Future Technology, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Long Li
- School of Mechatronics Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Quan Zhang
- School of Mechatronics Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
- School of Future Technology, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Yue
- School of Mechatronics Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
- School of Future Technology, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Intelligent Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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2
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Bravo-Olín J, Martínez-Carreón SA, Francisco-Solano E, Lara AR, Beltran-Vargas NE. Analysis of the role of perfusion, mechanical, and electrical stimulation in bioreactors for cardiac tissue engineering. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 2024; 47:767-839. [PMID: 38643271 DOI: 10.1007/s00449-024-03004-5] [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: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Since cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are globally one of the leading causes of death, of which myocardial infarction (MI) can cause irreversible damage and decrease survivors' quality of life, novel therapeutics are needed. Current approaches such as organ transplantation do not fully restore cardiac function or are limited. As a valuable strategy, tissue engineering seeks to obtain constructs that resemble myocardial tissue, vessels, and heart valves using cells, biomaterials as scaffolds, biochemical and physical stimuli. The latter can be induced using a bioreactor mimicking the heart's physiological environment. An extensive review of bioreactors providing perfusion, mechanical and electrical stimulation, as well as the combination of them is provided. An analysis of the stimulations' mechanisms and modes that best suit cardiac construct culture is developed. Finally, we provide insights into bioreactor configuration and culture assessment properties that need to be elucidated for its clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Bravo-Olín
- Biological Engineering Undergraduate Program, Division of Natural Science and Engineering, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana-Cuajimalpa, Ciudad de Mexico C.P. 05348, México
| | - Sabina A Martínez-Carreón
- Biological Engineering Undergraduate Program, Division of Natural Science and Engineering, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana-Cuajimalpa, Ciudad de Mexico C.P. 05348, México
| | - Emmanuel Francisco-Solano
- Natural Science and Engineering Graduate Program, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana-Cuajimalpa, Ciudad de Mexico C.P. 05348, México
| | - Alvaro R Lara
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Nohra E Beltran-Vargas
- Process and Technology Department, Division of Natural Science and Engineering, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana-Cuajimalpa, Ciudad de Mexico C.P. 05348, México.
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3
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Hahn F, Ferrandez-Montero A, Queri M, Vancaeyzeele C, Plesse C, Agniel R, Leroy-Dudal J. Electroactive 4D Porous Scaffold Based on Conducting Polymer as a Responsive and Dynamic In Vitro Cell Culture Platform. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:5613-5626. [PMID: 38278772 PMCID: PMC10859895 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c16686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
In vivo, cells reside in a 3D porous and dynamic microenvironment. It provides biochemical and biophysical cues that regulate cell behavior in physiological and pathological processes. In the context of fundamental cell biology research, tissue engineering, and cell-based drug screening systems, a challenge is to develop relevant in vitro models that could integrate the dynamic properties of the cell microenvironment. Taking advantage of the promising high internal phase emulsion templating, we here designed a polyHIPE scaffold with a wide interconnected porosity and functionalized its internal 3D surface with a thin layer of electroactive conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) to turn it into a 4D electroresponsive scaffold. The resulting scaffold was cytocompatible with fibroblasts, supported cellular infiltration, and hosted cells, which display a 3D spreading morphology. It demonstrated robust actuation in ion- and protein-rich complex culture media, and its electroresponsiveness was not altered by fibroblast colonization. Thanks to customized electrochemical stimulation setups, the electromechanical response of the polyHIPE/PEDOT scaffolds was characterized in situ under a confocal microscope and showed 10% reversible volume variations. Finally, the setups were used to monitor in real time and in situ fibroblasts cultured into the polyHIPE/PEDOT scaffold during several cycles of electromechanical stimuli. Thus, we demonstrated the proof of concept of this tunable scaffold as a tool for future 4D cell culture and mechanobiology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Hahn
- Equipe
de Recherche sur les Relations Matrice Extracellulaire-Cellules (ERRMECe),
Groupe Matrice Extracellulaire et Physiopathologie (MECuP), I-Mat, CY Cergy Paris Université, 95000 Neuville
sur Oise, France
- Laboratoire
de Physicochimie des Polymères et des Interfaces (LPPI), I-Mat, CY Cergy Paris Université, 95000 Neuville sur Oise, France
| | - Ana Ferrandez-Montero
- Equipe
de Recherche sur les Relations Matrice Extracellulaire-Cellules (ERRMECe),
Groupe Matrice Extracellulaire et Physiopathologie (MECuP), I-Mat, CY Cergy Paris Université, 95000 Neuville
sur Oise, France
- Laboratoire
de Physicochimie des Polymères et des Interfaces (LPPI), I-Mat, CY Cergy Paris Université, 95000 Neuville sur Oise, France
- Instituto
de Ceramica y Vidrio (ICV), CSIC, Campus Cantoblanco, Kelsen 5., 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mélodie Queri
- Equipe
de Recherche sur les Relations Matrice Extracellulaire-Cellules (ERRMECe),
Groupe Matrice Extracellulaire et Physiopathologie (MECuP), I-Mat, CY Cergy Paris Université, 95000 Neuville
sur Oise, France
- Laboratoire
de Physicochimie des Polymères et des Interfaces (LPPI), I-Mat, CY Cergy Paris Université, 95000 Neuville sur Oise, France
| | - Cédric Vancaeyzeele
- Laboratoire
de Physicochimie des Polymères et des Interfaces (LPPI), I-Mat, CY Cergy Paris Université, 95000 Neuville sur Oise, France
| | - Cédric Plesse
- Laboratoire
de Physicochimie des Polymères et des Interfaces (LPPI), I-Mat, CY Cergy Paris Université, 95000 Neuville sur Oise, France
| | - Rémy Agniel
- Equipe
de Recherche sur les Relations Matrice Extracellulaire-Cellules (ERRMECe),
Groupe Matrice Extracellulaire et Physiopathologie (MECuP), I-Mat, CY Cergy Paris Université, 95000 Neuville
sur Oise, France
| | - Johanne Leroy-Dudal
- Equipe
de Recherche sur les Relations Matrice Extracellulaire-Cellules (ERRMECe),
Groupe Matrice Extracellulaire et Physiopathologie (MECuP), I-Mat, CY Cergy Paris Université, 95000 Neuville
sur Oise, France
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4
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Ormrod B, Ehler E. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes-more show than substance? Biophys Rev 2023; 15:1941-1950. [PMID: 38192353 PMCID: PMC10771368 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-023-01099-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyocytes that are derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-CM) are an exciting tool to investigate cardiomyopathy disease mechanisms at the cellular level as well as to screen for potential side effects of novel drugs. However, currently their benefit is limited due to their fairly immature differentiation status under conventional culture conditions. This review is mainly aimed at researchers outside of the iPSC-CM field and will describe potential pitfalls and which features at the level of the myofibrils would be desired to make them a more representative model system. We will also discuss different strategies that may help to achieve these.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth Ormrod
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Sciences, King’s College London, London, SE1 1UL UK
| | - Elisabeth Ehler
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Sciences, King’s College London, London, SE1 1UL UK
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics (School of Basic and Biosciences), Room 3.26A, New Hunt’s House, Guy’s Campus, London, SE1 1UL UK
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, King’s College London, London, SE1 1UL UK
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5
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Kyriakou S, Lubig A, Sandhoff CA, Kuhn Y, Jockenhoevel S. Influence of Diameter and Cyclic Mechanical Stimulation on the Beating Frequency of Myocardial Cell-Laden Fibers. Gels 2023; 9:677. [PMID: 37754359 PMCID: PMC10528042 DOI: 10.3390/gels9090677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrioventricular block (AVB) is a severe disease for pediatric patients. The repetitive operations needed in the case of the pacemaker implantation to maintain the electrical signal at the atrioventricular node (AVN) affect the patient's life quality. In this study, we present a method of biofabrication of multi-cell-laden cylindrical fibrin-based fibers that can restore the electrical signal at the AVN. We used human umbilical vein smooth muscle cells (HUVSMCs), human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and induced pluripotent stem cell cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) cultivated either statically or dynamically to mimic the native AVN. We investigated the influence of cell composition, construct diameter and cyclic stretch on the function of the fibrin hydrogels in vitro. Immunohistochemistry analyses showed the maturity of the iPSC-CMs in the constructs through the expression of sarcomeric alpha actinin (SAA) and electrical coupling through Connexin 43 (Cx43) signal. Simultaneously, the beating frequency of the fibrin hydrogels was higher and easy to maintain whereas the concentration of iPSC-CMs was higher compared with the other types of cylindrical constructs. In total, our study highlights that the combination of fibrin with the cell mixture and geometry is offering a feasible biofabrication method for tissue engineering approaches for the treatment of AVB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavroula Kyriakou
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (S.K.); (C.A.S.); (Y.K.)
| | - Andreas Lubig
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (S.K.); (C.A.S.); (Y.K.)
| | - Cilia A. Sandhoff
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (S.K.); (C.A.S.); (Y.K.)
| | - Yasmin Kuhn
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (S.K.); (C.A.S.); (Y.K.)
| | - Stefan Jockenhoevel
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (S.K.); (C.A.S.); (Y.K.)
- AMIBM-Aachen-Maastricht-Institute for Biobased Materials, Maastricht University, 186260 Geleen, The Netherlands
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6
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Vuorenpää H, Björninen M, Välimäki H, Ahola A, Kroon M, Honkamäki L, Koivumäki JT, Pekkanen-Mattila M. Building blocks of microphysiological system to model physiology and pathophysiology of human heart. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1213959. [PMID: 37485060 PMCID: PMC10358860 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1213959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Microphysiological systems (MPS) are drawing increasing interest from academia and from biomedical industry due to their improved capability to capture human physiology. MPS offer an advanced in vitro platform that can be used to study human organ and tissue level functions in health and in diseased states more accurately than traditional single cell cultures or even animal models. Key features in MPS include microenvironmental control and monitoring as well as high biological complexity of the target tissue. To reach these qualities, cross-disciplinary collaboration from multiple fields of science is required to build MPS. Here, we review different areas of expertise and describe essential building blocks of heart MPS including relevant cardiac cell types, supporting matrix, mechanical stimulation, functional measurements, and computational modelling. The review presents current methods in cardiac MPS and provides insights for future MPS development with improved recapitulation of human physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Vuorenpää
- Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Adult Stem Cell Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Research, Development and Innovation Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Miina Björninen
- Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Adult Stem Cell Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Research, Development and Innovation Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Hannu Välimäki
- Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Micro- and Nanosystems Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Antti Ahola
- Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Computational Biophysics and Imaging Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Mart Kroon
- Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Laura Honkamäki
- Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Neuro Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Jussi T. Koivumäki
- Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Computational Biophysics and Imaging Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Mari Pekkanen-Mattila
- Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Heart Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
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7
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In vitro cell stretching devices and their applications: From cardiomyogenic differentiation to tissue engineering. MEDICINE IN NOVEL TECHNOLOGY AND DEVICES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.medntd.2023.100220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
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8
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Melo-Fonseca F, Carvalho O, Gasik M, Miranda G, Silva FS. Mechanical stimulation devices for mechanobiology studies: a market, literature, and patents review. Biodes Manuf 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s42242-023-00232-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
AbstractSignificant advancements in various research and technological fields have contributed to remarkable findings on the physiological dynamics of the human body. To more closely mimic the complex physiological environment, research has moved from two-dimensional (2D) culture systems to more sophisticated three-dimensional (3D) dynamic cultures. Unlike bioreactors or microfluidic-based culture models, cells are typically seeded on polymeric substrates or incorporated into 3D constructs which are mechanically stimulated to investigate cell response to mechanical stresses, such as tensile or compressive. This review focuses on the working principles of mechanical stimulation devices currently available on the market or custom-built by research groups or protected by patents and highlights the main features still open to improvement. These are the features which could be focused on to perform, in the future, more reliable and accurate mechanobiology studies.
Graphic abstract
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9
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Wang C, Ramahdita G, Genin G, Huebsch N, Ma Z. Dynamic mechanobiology of cardiac cells and tissues: Current status and future perspective. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2023; 4:011314. [PMID: 37008887 PMCID: PMC10062054 DOI: 10.1063/5.0141269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical forces impact cardiac cells and tissues over their entire lifespan, from development to growth and eventually to pathophysiology. However, the mechanobiological pathways that drive cell and tissue responses to mechanical forces are only now beginning to be understood, due in part to the challenges in replicating the evolving dynamic microenvironments of cardiac cells and tissues in a laboratory setting. Although many in vitro cardiac models have been established to provide specific stiffness, topography, or viscoelasticity to cardiac cells and tissues via biomaterial scaffolds or external stimuli, technologies for presenting time-evolving mechanical microenvironments have only recently been developed. In this review, we summarize the range of in vitro platforms that have been used for cardiac mechanobiological studies. We provide a comprehensive review on phenotypic and molecular changes of cardiomyocytes in response to these environments, with a focus on how dynamic mechanical cues are transduced and deciphered. We conclude with our vision of how these findings will help to define the baseline of heart pathology and of how these in vitro systems will potentially serve to improve the development of therapies for heart diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ghiska Ramahdita
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA
| | | | | | - Zhen Ma
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
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10
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Zhu K, Bao X, Wang Y, Lu T, Zhang L. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocyte modelling of cardiovascular diseases for natural compound discovery. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 157:113970. [PMID: 36371854 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Natural compounds extracted from medicinal plants characterized by diverse biological activities and low toxicity or side effects, are increasingly taking center stage in the search for new drugs. Currently, preclinical evaluation of natural products relies mainly on the use of immortalized cell lines of human origin or animal models. Increasing evidence indicates that cardiomyopathy models based on immortalized cell lines do not recapitulate pathogenic phenotypes accurately and a substantial physiological discrepancy between animals and humans casts doubt on the clinical relevance of animal models for these studies. The newly developed human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology in combination with highly-efficient cardiomyocyte differentiation methods provides an ideal tool for modeling human cardiomyopathies in vitro. Screening of drugs, especially screening of natural products, based on these models has been widely used and has shown that evaluation in such models can recapitulate important aspects of the physiological properties of drugs. The purpose of this review is to provide information on the latest developments in this area of research and to help researchers perform screening of natural products using the hiPSC-CM platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyang Zhu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, PR China
| | - Xiaoming Bao
- Department of Cardiology, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang, PR China; Department of Global Health, Ningbo Institute of Life and Health Industry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Yingchao Wang
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Ting Lu
- Clinical Research Center of The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, PR China.
| | - Ling Zhang
- College of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, PR China.
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11
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Wang G, Yuan Z, Yu L, Yu Y, Zhou P, Chu G, Wang H, Guo Q, Zhu C, Han F, Chen S, Li B. Mechanically conditioned cell sheets cultured on thermo-responsive surfaces promote bone regeneration. BIOMATERIALS TRANSLATIONAL 2023; 4:27-40. [PMID: 37206307 PMCID: PMC10189809 DOI: 10.12336/biomatertransl.2023.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Cell sheet-based scaffold-free technology holds promise for tissue engineering applications and has been extensively explored during the past decades. However, efficient harvest and handling of cell sheets remain challenging, including insufficient extracellular matrix content and poor mechanical strength. Mechanical loading has been widely used to enhance extracellular matrix production in a variety of cell types. However, currently, there are no effective ways to apply mechanical loading to cell sheets. In this study, we prepared thermo-responsive elastomer substrates by grafting poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAAm) to poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) surfaces. The effect of PNIPAAm grafting yields on cell behaviours was investigated to optimize surfaces suitable for cell sheet culturing and harvesting. Subsequently, MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured on the PDMS-g-PNIPAAm substrates under mechanical stimulation by cyclically stretching the substrates. Upon maturation, the cell sheets were harvested by lowering the temperature. We found that the extracellular matrix content and thickness of cell sheet were markedly elevated upon appropriate mechanical conditioning. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses further confirmed that the expression of osteogenic-specific genes and major matrix components were up-regulated. After implantation into the critical-sized calvarial defects of mice, the mechanically conditioned cell sheets significantly promoted new bone formation. Findings from this study reveal that thermo-responsive elastomer, together with mechanical conditioning, can potentially be applied to prepare high-quality cell sheets for bone tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Song Chen
- Corresponding authors: Bin Li, ; Song Chen,
| | - Bin Li
- Corresponding authors: Bin Li, ; Song Chen,
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12
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Mostert D, Groenen B, Klouda L, Passier R, Goumans MJ, Kurniawan NA, Bouten CVC. Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes align under cyclic strain when guided by cardiac fibroblasts. APL Bioeng 2022; 6:046108. [PMID: 36567768 PMCID: PMC9771596 DOI: 10.1063/5.0108914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The myocardium is a mechanically active tissue typified by anisotropy of the resident cells [cardiomyocytes (CMs) and cardiac fibroblasts (cFBs)] and the extracellular matrix (ECM). Upon ischemic injury, the anisotropic tissue is replaced by disorganized scar tissue, resulting in loss of coordinated contraction. Efforts to re-establish tissue anisotropy in the injured myocardium are hampered by a lack of understanding of how CM and/or cFB structural organization is affected by the two major physical cues inherent in the myocardium: ECM organization and cyclic mechanical strain. Herein, we investigate the singular and combined effect of ECM (dis)organization and cyclic strain in a two-dimensional human in vitro co-culture model of the myocardial microenvironment. We show that (an)isotropic ECM protein patterning can guide the orientation of CMs and cFBs, both in mono- and co-culture. Subsequent application of uniaxial cyclic strain-mimicking the local anisotropic deformation of beating myocardium-causes no effect when applied parallel to the anisotropic ECM. However, when cultured on isotropic substrates, cFBs, but not CMs, orient away from the direction of cyclic uniaxial strain (strain avoidance). In contrast, CMs show strain avoidance via active remodeling of their sarcomeres only when co-cultured with at least 30% cFBs. Paracrine signaling or N-cadherin-mediated communication between CMs and cFBs was no contributing factor. Our findings suggest that the mechanoresponsive cFBs provide structural guidance for CM orientation and elongation. Our study, therefore, highlights a synergistic mechanobiological interplay between CMs and cFBs in shaping tissue organization, which is of relevance for regenerating functionally organized myocardium.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bart Groenen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Leda Klouda
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | | | - Marie-Jose Goumans
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology and Center for Biomedical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Fell CA, Brooks-Richards TL, Woodruff M, Allenby MC. Soft pneumatic actuators for mimicking multi-axial femoropopliteal artery mechanobiology. Biofabrication 2022; 14. [PMID: 35378520 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac63ef] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Tissue biomanufacturing aims to produce lab-grown stem cell grafts and biomimetic drug testing platforms but remains limited in its ability to recapitulate native tissue mechanics. The emerging field of soft robotics aims to emulate dynamic physiological locomotion, representing an ideal approach to recapitulate physiologically complex mechanical stimuli and enhance patient-specific tissue maturation. The kneecap's femoropopliteal artery (FPA) represents a highly flexible tissue across multiple axes during blood flow, walking, standing, and crouching positions, and these complex biomechanics are implicated in the FPA's frequent presentation of peripheral artery disease. We developed a soft pneumatically actuated (SPA) cell culture platform to investigate how patient-specific FPA mechanics affect lab-grown arterial tissues. Silicone hyperelastomers were screened for flexibility and biocompatibility, then additively manufactured into SPAs using a simulation-based design workflow to mimic normal and diseased FPA extensions in radial, angular, and longitudinal dimensions. SPA culture platforms were seeded with mesenchymal stem cells, connected to a pneumatic controller, and provided with 24-hour multi-axial exercise schedules to demonstrate the effect of dynamic conditioning on cell alignment, collagen production, and muscle differentiation without additional growth factors. Soft robotic bioreactors are promising platforms for recapitulating patient-, disease-, and lifestyle-specific mechanobiology for understanding disease, treatment simulations, and lab-grown tissue grafts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody A Fell
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering; Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4001, AUSTRALIA
| | - Trent L Brooks-Richards
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering; Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4001, AUSTRALIA
| | - Mia Woodruff
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering; Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Avenue, Brisbane, Queensland, 4001, AUSTRALIA
| | - Mark Colin Allenby
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Andrew N. Liveris Building, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, AUSTRALIA
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14
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Mehrotra S, de Melo BAG, Miscuglio M, Kiaee K, Shin SR, Mandal BB. Mimicking Native Heart Tissue Physiology and Pathology in Silk Fibroin Constructs through a Perfusion-Based Dynamic Mechanical Stimulation Microdevice. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2101678. [PMID: 34971210 PMCID: PMC11041525 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202101678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
In vitro cardiomyocyte (CM) maturation is an imperative step to replicate native heart tissue-like structures as cardiac tissue grafts or as drug screening platforms. CMs are known to interpret biophysical cues such as stiffness, topography, external mechanical stimulation or dynamic perfusion load through mechanotransduction and change their behavior, organization, and maturation. In this regard, a silk-based cardiac tissue (CT) coupled with a dynamic perfusion-based mechanical stimulation platform (DMM) for achieving maturation and functionality in vitro is tried to be delivered. Silk fibroin (SF) is used to fabricate lamellar scaffolds to provide native tissue-like anisotropic architecture and is found to be nonimmunogenic and biocompatible allowing cardiomyocyte attachment and growth in vitro. Further, the scaffolds display excellent mechanical properties by their ability to undergo cyclic compressions without any deformation when places in the DMM. Gradient compression strains (5% to 20%), mimicking the native physiological and pathological conditions, are applied to the cardiomyocyte culture seeded on lamellar silk scaffolds in the DMM. A strain-dependent difference in cardiomyocyte maturation, gene expression, sarcomere elongation, and extracellular matrix formation is observed. These silk-based CTs matured in the DMM can open up several avenues toward the development of host-specific grafts and in vitro models for drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya Mehrotra
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Bruna Alice Gomes de Melo
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 04039-002, Brazil
| | - Mario Miscuglio
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Kiavash Kiaee
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Su Ryon Shin
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Biman B Mandal
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India
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15
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Carlos-Oliveira M, Lozano-Juan F, Occhetta P, Visone R, Rasponi M. Current strategies of mechanical stimulation for maturation of cardiac microtissues. Biophys Rev 2021; 13:717-727. [PMID: 34765047 PMCID: PMC8555032 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-021-00841-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The most advanced in vitro cardiac models are today based on the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs); however, the maturation of cardiomyocytes (CMs) has not yet been fully achieved. Therefore, there is a rising need to move towards models capable of promoting an adult-like cardiomyocytes phenotype. Many strategies have been applied such as co-culture of cardiomyocytes, with fibroblasts and endothelial cells, or conditioning them through biochemical factors and physical stimulations. Here, we focus on mechanical stimulation as it aims to mimic the different mechanical forces that heart receives during its development and the post-natal period. We describe the current strategies and the mechanical properties necessary to promote a positive response in cardiac tissues from different cell sources, distinguishing between passive stimulation, which includes stiffness, topography and static stress and active stimulation, encompassing cyclic strain, compression or perfusion. We also highlight how mechanical stimulation is applied in disease modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Carlos-Oliveira
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 34/5, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Ferran Lozano-Juan
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 34/5, 20133 Milano, Italy.,BiomimX S.r.l., Via G. Durando 38/A, 20158 Milano, Italy
| | - Paola Occhetta
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 34/5, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Roberta Visone
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 34/5, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Marco Rasponi
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 34/5, 20133 Milano, Italy
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16
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Gu X, Zhou F, Mu J. Recent Advances in Maturation of Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes Promoted by Mechanical Stretch. Med Sci Monit 2021; 27:e931063. [PMID: 34381009 PMCID: PMC8369941 DOI: 10.12659/msm.931063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cells have significant potential use in tissue regeneration, especially for treating cardiac diseases because of their multi-directional differentiation capability. By mimicking the in vivo physiological environment of native cardiomyocytes during their development and maturation, researchers have been able to induce pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (PSC-CMs) at high purity. However, the phenotype of these PSC-CMs is immature compared with that of adult cardiomyocytes. Various strategies have been explored to improve the maturity of PSC-CMs, such as long-term culturing, mechanical stimuli, chemical stimuli, and combinations of these strategies. Among these strategies, mechanical stretch as a key mechanical stimulus plays an important role in PSC-CM maturation. In this review, the optimal parameters of mechanical stretch, the effects of mechanical stretch on maturation of PSC-CMs, underlying molecular mechanisms as well as existing problems are discussed. Mechanical stretch is a powerful approach to promote the maturation of SC-CMs in terms of morphology, structure, and functionality. Nonetheless, further research efforts are needed to reach a satisfactory standard for clinical applications of PSC-CMs in treating cardiac diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingwang Gu
- Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Fan Zhou
- Department of Ultrasound, Third Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Junsheng Mu
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
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17
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Maturation strategies and limitations of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Biosci Rep 2021; 41:226678. [PMID: 33057659 PMCID: PMC8209171 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20200833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have the ability to differentiate into cardiomyocytes (CMs). They are not only widely used in cardiac pharmacology screening, human heart disease modeling, and cell transplantation-based treatments, but also the most promising source of CMs for experimental and clinical applications. However, their use is largely restricted by the immature phenotype of structure and function, which is similar to embryonic or fetal CMs and has certain differences from adult CMs. In order to overcome this critical issue, many studies have explored and revealed new strategies to induce the maturity of iPSC-CMs. Therefore, this article aims to review recent induction methods of mature iPSC-CMs, related mechanisms, and limitations.
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18
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Correia Carreira S, Taghavi M, Pavez Loriè E, Rossiter J. FleXert: A Soft, Actuatable Multiwell Plate Insert for Cell Culture under Stretch. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 7:2225-2245. [PMID: 33843187 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Porous multiwell plate inserts are widely used in biomedical research to study transport processes or to culture cells/tissues at the air-liquid interface. These inserts are made of rigid materials and used under static culture conditions, which are unrepresentative of biological microenvironments. Here, we present FleXert, a soft, actuatable cell culture insert that interfaces with six-well plates. It is made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and comprises a porous PDMS membrane as cell/tissue support. FleXerts can be pneumatically actuated using a standard syringe pump, imparting tensile strains of up to 30%. A wide range of actuation patterns can be achieved by varying the air pressure and pumping rate. Facile surface functionalization of FleXert's porous PDMS membrane with fibronectin enables adhesion of human dermal fibroblasts and strains developing on FleXert's membrane are successfully transduced to the cell layer. 3D tissue models, such as fibroblast-laden collagen gels, can also be anchored to PDMS following polydopamine coating. Furthermore, collagen-coated FleXert membranes support the establishment of a human skin model, demonstrating the material's excellent biocompatibility required for tissue engineering. In contrast to existing technologies, FleXerts do not require costly fabrication equipment or custom-built culture chambers, making them a versatile and low-cost solution for tissue engineering and biological barrier penetration studies under physiological strain. This paper is an extensive toolkit for multidisciplinary mechanobiology studies, including detailed instructions for a wide variety of methods such as device fabrication, theoretical modeling, cell culture, and image analysis techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Correia Carreira
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Majid Taghavi
- Bristol Robotics Laboratory, University of Bristol, T Block, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Pavez Loriè
- Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
| | - Jonathan Rossiter
- Bristol Robotics Laboratory, University of Bristol, T Block, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, United Kingdom
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19
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Visone R, Ugolini GS, Cruz-Moreira D, Marzorati S, Piazza S, Pesenti E, Redaelli A, Moretti M, Occhetta P, Rasponi M. Micro-electrode channel guide (µECG) technology: an online method for continuous electrical recording in a human beating heart-on-chip. Biofabrication 2021; 13. [PMID: 33561845 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/abe4c4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac toxicity still represents a common adverse outcome causing drug attrition and post-marketing withdrawal. The development of relevant in vitro models resembling the human heart recently opened the path towards a more accurate detection of drug-induced human cardiac toxicity early in the drug development process. Organs-on-chip (OoC) have been proposed as promising tools to recapitulate in vitro the key aspects of the in vivo cardiac physiology and to provide a means to directly analyze functional readouts. In this scenario, a new device capable of continuous monitoring of electrophysiological signals from functional in vitro human hearts-on-chip is here presented. The development of cardiac microtissues was achieved through a recently published method to control the mechanical environment, while the introduction of a technology consisting in micro-electrode coaxial guides (µECG) allowed to conduct direct and non-destructive electrophysiology studies. The generated human cardiac microtissues exhibited synchronous spontaneous beating, as demonstrated by multi-point and continuous acquisition of cardiac field potential, and expression of relevant genes encoding for cardiac ion-channels. A proof-of-concept pharmacological validation on 3 drugs proved the proposed model to potentially be a powerful tool to evaluate functional cardiac toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Visone
- Politecnico di Milano Dipartimento di Elettronica Informazione e Bioingegneria, Via Ponzio 34/5, Milano, Lombardia, 20133, ITALY
| | - Giovanni Stefano Ugolini
- Politecnico di Milano Dipartimento di Elettronica Informazione e Bioingegneria, Via Ponzio 34/5, Milano, Lombardia, 20133, ITALY
| | - Daniela Cruz-Moreira
- Politecnico di Milano Dipartimento di Elettronica Informazione e Bioingegneria, Via Ponzio 34/5, Milano, Lombardia, 20133, ITALY
| | - Simona Marzorati
- Translational Medicine, Accelera Srl, via Pasteur, Nerviano, Nerviano, MI, 20100, ITALY
| | - Stefano Piazza
- BiomimX Srl, Via Giovanni Durando 38/A, Milan, 20158, ITALY
| | | | - Alberto Redaelli
- Politecnico di Milano Dipartimento di Elettronica Informazione e Bioingegneria, Via Ponzio 34/5, Milano, Lombardia, 20133, ITALY
| | - Matteo Moretti
- Cell and Tissue Engineering Lab, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, via R Galeazzi 4, Milan, 20161, ITALY
| | - Paola Occhetta
- Politecnico di Milano Dipartimento di Elettronica Informazione e Bioingegneria, Via Ponzio 34/5, Milano, Lombardia, 20133, ITALY
| | - Marco Rasponi
- Politecnico di Milano Dipartimento di Elettronica Informazione e Bioingegneria, Via Ponzio 34/5, Milano, Lombardia, 20133, ITALY
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20
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Dielectrophoretic characterization of dendritic cell deformability upon maturation. Biotechniques 2020; 70:29-36. [PMID: 33138639 DOI: 10.2144/btn-2020-0126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We have developed a rapid technique for characterizing the biomechanical properties of dendritic cells using dielectrophoretic forces. It is widely recognized that maturing of dendritic cells modulates their stiffness and migration capabilities, which results in T-cell activation triggering the adaptive immune response. Therefore it is important to develop techniques for mechanophenotyping of immature and mature dendritic cells. The technique reported here utilizes nonuniform electric fields to exert a substantial force on the cells to induce cellular elongation for optical measurements. In addition, a large array of interdigitated electrodes allows multiple cells to be stretched simultaneously. Our results indicate a direct correlation between F-actin activity and deformability observed in dendritic cells, determined through mean fluorescence signal intensity of phalloidin.
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