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Siddique AB, Williams KA, Swami NS. Nanogrooved Elastomeric Diaphragm Arrays for Assessment of Cardiomyocytes under Synergistic Effects of Circular Mechanical Stimuli and Electrical Conductivity to Enhance Intercellular Communication. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024. [PMID: 39679605 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c01298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of mortality, necessitating advancements in in vitro cardiac tissue engineering platforms for improved disease modeling, drug screening, and regenerative therapies. The chief challenge to recapitulating the beating behavior of cardiomyocytes is creation of the circular stress profile experienced by hollow organs in the natural heart due to filling pressure and integrated strategies for intercellular communication to promote cell-to-cell connections. We present a platform featuring addressable arrays of nanogrooved polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) diaphragms for cell alignment and circular mechanical stimulation, with embedded silver nanowires (AgNWs) for electrical cues, so that cardiomyocyte functionality can be assessed under these synergistic influences. Central to our innovation is a two-layer PDMS diaphragm design that electrically isolates the liquid metal (EGaIn) strain sensor in the bottom layer to enable detection and control of mechanical stimulation from conductive portions of embedded AgNWs in the top layer that supports cardiomyocyte culture and communication. In this manner, through localized detection and control of the circular mechanical stimulation, the essential role of multiaxial stretching on cardiomyocyte function is elucidated based on their contractility, sarcomere length, and connexin-43 expression. This in vitro platform can potentially transform cardiac tissue engineering, drug screening, and precision medicine approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah-Bin Siddique
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Keith A Williams
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Nathan S Swami
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
- Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
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Lee Y, Song J, Batjargal U, Kim MS, Lee G, Kim G, Lee T, Kang R, Kim Y, Kim HJ, Lee J. Pseudo-3D Topological Alignments Regulate Mechanotransduction and Maturation of Smooth Muscle Cells. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2402492. [PMID: 39363803 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202402492] [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: 07/07/2024] [Revised: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024]
Abstract
Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) sense and respond to mechanical stimuli in their extracellular microenvironments (ECMs), playing a crucial role in muscle tissue engineering. Increasing evidence from topological cues-mediated mechanotransduction of SMCs in ECMs has suggested some potential underlying mechanisms of how SMC functions and maturation are regulated by their mechanosensing leading to transduction. However, how the expression of yes-associated protein 1 (YAP) influences the phenotypic shift from synthetic to contractile is still controversial. Here, pseudo-3D topological alignments mimicking native muscle tissues are generated using laser-cutter engraving to explore the influence of topological cues on SMC mechanotransduction and maturation. The analysis of topological cue-mediated mechanotransduction and maturation marker expression revealed YAP is involved in mechanotransduction for SMCs cultured on cross-patterned substrates in the presence of cell-cell interactions. Moreover, these SMCs with YAP-linked mechanosensing showed higher expression of calponin, indicating a shift toward contractile phenotypes in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, it showed skeletal muscle cells has different mechanosensing and maturation mechanisms compared to SMCs, revealing muscle type-dependent different sensing of topological cues, and converting into maturation-associated signaling cascades. This study provides insights into the regulation of SMC mechanotransduction and maturation by topological cues, suggesting the involvement of YAP-linked signaling pathways in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeji Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 790-784, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihyeon Song
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 790-784, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Min-Seok Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Geonho Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 790-784, Republic of Korea
| | - Geonwoo Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 790-784, Republic of Korea
| | - Taehoon Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 790-784, Republic of Korea
| | - RaeHui Kang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 790-784, Republic of Korea
| | - Younggyun Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Han-Jun Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Junmin Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 790-784, Republic of Korea
- Institute for Convergence Research and Education in Advanced Technology, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea
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Hu J, Anderson W, Hayes E, Strauss EA, Lang J, Bacos J, Simacek N, Vu HH, McCarty OJ, Kim H, Kang Y(A. The development, use, and challenges of electromechanical tissue stimulation systems. Artif Organs 2024; 48:943-960. [PMID: 38887912 PMCID: PMC11321926 DOI: 10.1111/aor.14808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tissue stimulations greatly affect cell growth, phenotype, and function, and they play an important role in modeling tissue physiology. With the goal of understanding the cellular mechanisms underlying the response of tissues to external stimulations, in vitro models of tissue stimulation have been developed in hopes of recapitulating in vivo tissue function. METHODS Herein we review the efforts to create and validate tissue stimulators responsive to electrical or mechanical stimulation including tensile, compression, torsion, and shear. RESULTS Engineered tissue platforms have been designed to allow tissues to be subjected to selected types of mechanical stimulation from simple uniaxial to humanoid robotic stain through equal-biaxial strain. Similarly, electrical stimulators have been developed to apply selected electrical signal shapes, amplitudes, and load cycles to tissues, lending to usage in stem cell-derived tissue development, tissue maturation, and tissue functional regeneration. Some stimulators also allow for the observation of tissue morphology in real-time while cells undergo stimulation. Discussion on the challenges and limitations of tissue simulator development is provided. CONCLUSIONS Despite advances in the development of useful tissue stimulators, opportunities for improvement remain to better reproduce physiological functions by accounting for complex loading cycles, electrical and mechanical induction coupled with biological stimuli, and changes in strain affected by applied inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Hu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering; University of Massachusetts; Lowell, MA 01854 USA
| | - William Anderson
- Department of Mechanical, Civil, and Biomedical Engineering; George Fox University; Newberg, OR 97132 USA
| | - Emily Hayes
- Department of Mechanical, Civil, and Biomedical Engineering; George Fox University; Newberg, OR 97132 USA
| | - Ellie Annah Strauss
- Department of Mechanical, Civil, and Biomedical Engineering; George Fox University; Newberg, OR 97132 USA
| | - Jordan Lang
- Department of Mechanical, Civil, and Biomedical Engineering; George Fox University; Newberg, OR 97132 USA
| | - Josh Bacos
- Department of Mechanical, Civil, and Biomedical Engineering; George Fox University; Newberg, OR 97132 USA
| | - Noah Simacek
- Department of Mechanical, Civil, and Biomedical Engineering; George Fox University; Newberg, OR 97132 USA
| | - Helen H. Vu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; Oregon Health & Science University; Portland, OR 97239 USA
| | - Owen J.T. McCarty
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; Oregon Health & Science University; Portland, OR 97239 USA
- Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology; Oregon Health & Science University; Portland, OR 97201 USA
| | - Hoyeon Kim
- Department of Engineering; Loyola University Maryland; Baltimore, MD 21210 USA
| | - Youngbok (Abraham) Kang
- Department of Mechanical, Civil, and Biomedical Engineering; George Fox University; Newberg, OR 97132 USA
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Xu F, Jin H, Liu L, Yang Y, Cen J, Wu Y, Chen S, Sun D. Architecture design and advanced manufacturing of heart-on-a-chip: scaffolds, stimulation and sensors. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2024; 10:96. [PMID: 39006908 PMCID: PMC11239895 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-024-00692-7] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Heart-on-a-chip (HoC) has emerged as a highly efficient, cost-effective device for the development of engineered cardiac tissue, facilitating high-throughput testing in drug development and clinical treatment. HoC is primarily used to create a biomimetic microphysiological environment conducive to fostering the maturation of cardiac tissue and to gather information regarding the real-time condition of cardiac tissue. The development of architectural design and advanced manufacturing for these "3S" components, scaffolds, stimulation, and sensors is essential for improving the maturity of cardiac tissue cultivated on-chip, as well as the precision and accuracy of tissue states. In this review, the typical structures and manufacturing technologies of the "3S" components are summarized. The design and manufacturing suggestions for each component are proposed. Furthermore, key challenges and future perspectives of HoC platforms with integrated "3S" components are discussed. Architecture design concepts of scaffolds, stimulation and sensors in chips.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Xu
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102 China
| | - Hang Jin
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102 China
| | - Lingling Liu
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102 China
| | - Yuanyuan Yang
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102 China
| | - Jianzheng Cen
- Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangzhou, 510080 China
| | - Yaobin Wu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 China
| | - Songyue Chen
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102 China
| | - Daoheng Sun
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102 China
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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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Kim J, Shanmugasundaram A, Lee CB, Kim JR, Park JJ, Kim ES, Lee BK, Lee DW. Enhanced cardiomyocyte structural and functional anisotropy through synergetic combination of topographical, conductive, and mechanical stimulation. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:4540-4551. [PMID: 37771289 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00451a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Drug-induced cardiotoxicity, a significant concern in the pharmaceutical industry, often results in the withdrawal of drugs from the market. The main cause of drug-induced cardiotoxicity is the use of immature cardiomyocytes during in vitro drug screening procedures. Over time, several methods such as topographical, conductive, and mechanical stimulation have been proposed to enhance both maturation and contractile properties of these cardiomyocytes. However, the synergistic effects of integrating topographical, conductive, and mechanical stimulation for cardiomyocyte maturation remain underexplored and poorly understood. To address this limitation, herein, we propose a grooved polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane embedded with silver nanowires (AgNWs-E-PDMS). The proposed AgNWs-E-PDMS membrane enhances the maturation of cardiomyocytes and provides a more accurate evaluation of drug-induced cardiotoxicity. When subjected to 10% tensile stress on the AgNWs-E-PDMS membrane, cardiomyocytes displayed substantial enhancements. Specifically, the contraction force, sarcomere length, and connexin-43 (Cx43) expression are increased by 2.0-, 1.5-, and 2.4-times, respectively, compared to the control state. The practical feasibility of the proposed device as a drug screening platform is demonstrated by assessing the adverse effects of lidocaine on cardiomyocytes. The contraction force and beat rate of lidocaine treated cardiomyocytes cultured on the AgNWs-E-PDMS membrane under mechanical stimulation decreased to 0.9 and 0.64 times their initial values respectively, compared to 0.6 and 0.51 times in the control state. These less pronounced changes in the contraction force and beat rate signify the superior drug response in the cardiomyocytes, a result of their enhanced maturation and growth on the AgNWs-E-PDMS membrane combined with mechanical stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongyun Kim
- MEMS and Nanotechnology Laboratory, School of Mechanical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea.
- Advanced Medical Device Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Arunkumar Shanmugasundaram
- MEMS and Nanotechnology Laboratory, School of Mechanical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea.
- Advanced Medical Device Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheong Bin Lee
- MEMS and Nanotechnology Laboratory, School of Mechanical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jae Rim Kim
- MEMS and Nanotechnology Laboratory, School of Mechanical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jeong Jae Park
- MEMS and Nanotechnology Laboratory, School of Mechanical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea.
| | - Eung-Sam Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
- Center for Next-Generation Sensor Research and Development, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong-Kee Lee
- MEMS and Nanotechnology Laboratory, School of Mechanical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea.
- Center for Next-Generation Sensor Research and Development, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Weon Lee
- MEMS and Nanotechnology Laboratory, School of Mechanical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea.
- Center for Next-Generation Sensor Research and Development, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
- Advanced Medical Device Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
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