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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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2
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Butler D, Reyes DR. Heart-on-a-chip systems: disease modeling and drug screening applications. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:1494-1528. [PMID: 38318723 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00829k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, casting a substantial economic footprint and burdening the global healthcare system. Historically, pre-clinical CVD modeling and therapeutic screening have been performed using animal models. Unfortunately, animal models oftentimes fail to adequately mimic human physiology, leading to a poor translation of therapeutics from pre-clinical trials to consumers. Even those that make it to market can be removed due to unforeseen side effects. As such, there exists a clinical, technological, and economical need for systems that faithfully capture human (patho)physiology for modeling CVD, assessing cardiotoxicity, and evaluating drug efficacy. Heart-on-a-chip (HoC) systems are a part of the broader organ-on-a-chip paradigm that leverages microfluidics, tissue engineering, microfabrication, electronics, and gene editing to create human-relevant models for studying disease, drug-induced side effects, and therapeutic efficacy. These compact systems can be capable of real-time measurements and on-demand characterization of tissue behavior and could revolutionize the drug development process. In this review, we highlight the key components that comprise a HoC system followed by a review of contemporary reports of their use in disease modeling, drug toxicity and efficacy assessment, and as part of multi-organ-on-a-chip platforms. We also discuss future perspectives and challenges facing the field, including a discussion on the role that standardization is expected to play in accelerating the widespread adoption of these platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derrick Butler
- Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
| | - Darwin R Reyes
- Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
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3
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Visone R, Paoletti C, Cordiale A, Nicoletti L, Divieto C, Rasponi M, Chiono V, Occhetta P. In Vitro Mechanical Stimulation to Reproduce the Pathological Hallmarks of Human Cardiac Fibrosis on a Beating Chip and Predict The Efficacy of Drugs and Advanced Therapies. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2301481. [PMID: 37941521 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301481] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is one of the main causes of heart failure, significantly contributing to mortality. The discovery and development of effective therapies able to heal fibrotic pathological symptoms thus remain of paramount importance. Micro-physiological systems (MPS) are recently introduced as promising platforms able to accelerate this finding. Here a 3D in vitro model of human cardiac fibrosis, named uScar, is developed by imposing a cyclic mechanical stimulation to human atrial cardiac fibroblasts (AHCFs) cultured in a 3D beating heart-on-chip and exploited to screen drugs and advanced therapeutics. The sole provision of a cyclic 10% uniaxial strain at 1 Hz to the microtissues is sufficient to trigger fibrotic traits, inducing a consistent fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition and an enhanced expression and production of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Standard of care anti-fibrotic drugs (i.e., Pirfenidone and Tranilast) are confirmed to be efficient in preventing the onset of fibrotic traits in uScar. Conversely, the mechanical stimulation applied to the microtissues limit the ability of a miRNA therapy to directly reprogram fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes (CMs), despite its proved efficacy in 2D models. Such results demonstrate the importance of incorporating in vivo-like stimulations to generate more representative 3D in vitro models able to predict the efficacy of therapies in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Visone
- BiomimX Srl, Milan, 20157, Italy
- Department of Electronics, Informatics and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Camilla Paoletti
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, 10129, Italy
- Centro 3R (Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research), Pisa, 56122, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cordiale
- Department of Electronics, Informatics and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Letizia Nicoletti
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, 10129, Italy
- Centro 3R (Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research), Pisa, 56122, Italy
| | - Carla Divieto
- Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Division of Advanced Materials and Life Sciences, Turin, 10135, Italy
| | - Marco Rasponi
- Department of Electronics, Informatics and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy
- Centro 3R (Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research), Pisa, 56122, Italy
| | - Valeria Chiono
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, 10129, Italy
- Centro 3R (Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research), Pisa, 56122, Italy
| | - Paola Occhetta
- BiomimX Srl, Milan, 20157, Italy
- Department of Electronics, Informatics and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy
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4
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Hajam MI, Khan MM. Microfluidics: a concise review of the history, principles, design, applications, and future outlook. Biomater Sci 2024; 12:218-251. [PMID: 38108438 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm01463k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic technologies have garnered significant attention due to their ability to rapidly process samples and precisely manipulate fluids in assays, making them an attractive alternative to conventional experimental methods. With the potential for revolutionary capabilities in the future, this concise review provides readers with insights into the fascinating world of microfluidics. It begins by introducing the subject's historical background, allowing readers to familiarize themselves with the basics. The review then delves into the fundamental principles, discussing the underlying phenomena at play. Additionally, it highlights the different aspects of microfluidic device design, classification, and fabrication. Furthermore, the paper explores various applications, the global market, recent advancements, and challenges in the field. Finally, the review presents a positive outlook on trends and draws lessons to support the future flourishing of microfluidic technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Irfan Hajam
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Srinagar, India.
| | - Mohammad Mohsin Khan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Srinagar, India.
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5
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Zhang S, Xu G, Wu J, Liu X, Fan Y, Chen J, Wallace G, Gu Q. Microphysiological Constructs and Systems: Biofabrication Tactics, Biomimetic Evaluation Approaches, and Biomedical Applications. SMALL METHODS 2024; 8:e2300685. [PMID: 37798902 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300685] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, microphysiological constructs and systems (MPCs and MPSs) have undergone significant development, ranging from self-organized organoids to high-throughput organ-on-a-chip platforms. Advances in biomaterials, bioinks, 3D bioprinting, micro/nanofabrication, and sensor technologies have contributed to diverse and innovative biofabrication tactics. MPCs and MPSs, particularly tissue chips relevant to absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity, have demonstrated potential as precise, efficient, and economical alternatives to animal models for drug discovery and personalized medicine. However, current approaches mainly focus on the in vitro recapitulation of the human anatomical structure and physiological-biochemical indices at a single or a few simple levels. This review highlights the recent remarkable progress in MPC and MPS models and their applications. The challenges that must be addressed to assess the reliability, quantify the techniques, and utilize the fidelity of the models are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine/Department of Fetal Medicine and Prenatal Diagnosis/BioResource Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, China
| | - Guoshi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huairou District, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Juan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huairou District, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yong Fan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine/Department of Fetal Medicine and Prenatal Diagnosis/BioResource Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW, 2500, Australia
| | - Gordon Wallace
- Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW, 2500, Australia
| | - Qi Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huairou District, Beijing, 100049, China
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6
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Ferrari E, Monti E, Cerutti C, Visone R, Occhetta P, Griffith LG, Rasponi M. A method to generate perfusable physiologic-like vascular channels within a liver-on-chip model. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:064103. [PMID: 38058462 PMCID: PMC10697721 DOI: 10.1063/5.0170606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The human vasculature is essential in organs and tissues for the transport of nutrients, metabolic waste products, and the maintenance of homeostasis. The integration of vessels in in vitro organs-on-chip may, therefore, improve the similarity to the native organ microenvironment, ensuring proper physiological functions and reducing the gap between experimental research and clinical outcomes. This gap is particularly evident in drug testing and the use of vascularized models may provide more realistic insights into human responses to drugs in the pre-clinical phases of the drug development pipeline. In this context, different vascularized liver models have been developed to recapitulate the architecture of the hepatic sinusoid, exploiting either porous membranes or bioprinting techniques. In this work, we developed a method to generate perfusable vascular channels with a circular cross section within organs-on-chip without any interposing material between the parenchyma and the surrounding environment. Through this technique, vascularized liver sinusoid-on-chip systems with and without the inclusion of the space of Disse were designed and developed. The recapitulation of the Disse layer, therefore, a gap between hepatocytes and endothelial cells physiologically present in the native liver milieu, seems to enhance hepatic functionality (e.g., albumin production) compared to when hepatocytes are in close contact with endothelial cells. These findings pave the way to numerous further uses of microfluidic technologies coupled with vascularized tissue models (e.g., immune system perfusion) as well as the integration within multiorgan-on-chip settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - E. Monti
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, via Camillo Golgi 39, 20134 Milano (MI), Italy
| | - C. Cerutti
- Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, via Adamello 16, 20139 Milano (MI), Italy
| | - R. Visone
- BiomimX Srl, viale Decumano 41, 20157 Milano (MI), Italy
| | | | - L. G. Griffith
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - M. Rasponi
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, via Camillo Golgi 39, 20134 Milano (MI), Italy
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7
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Sun L, Bian F, Xu D, Luo Y, Wang Y, Zhao Y. Tailoring biomaterials for biomimetic organs-on-chips. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2023; 10:4724-4745. [PMID: 37697735 DOI: 10.1039/d3mh00755c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Organs-on-chips are microengineered microfluidic living cell culture devices with continuously perfused chambers penetrating to cells. By mimicking the biological features of the multicellular constructions, interactions among organs, vascular perfusion, physicochemical microenvironments, and so on, these devices are imparted with some key pathophysiological function levels of living organs that are difficult to be achieved in conventional 2D or 3D culture systems. In this technology, biomaterials are extremely important because they affect the microstructures and functionalities of the organ cells and the development of the organs-on-chip functions. Thus, herein, we provide an overview on the advances of biomaterials for the construction of organs-on-chips. After introducing the general components, structures, and fabrication techniques of the biomaterials, we focus on the studies of the functions and applications of these biomaterials in the organs-on-chips systems. Applications of the biomaterial-based organs-on-chips as alternative animal models for pharmaceutical, chemical, and environmental tests are described and highlighted. The prospects for exciting future directions and the challenges of biomaterials for realizing the further functionalization of organs-on-chips are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyu Sun
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
| | - Feika Bian
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
| | - Dongyu Xu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
| | - Yuan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China.
| | - Yongan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China.
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
- Southeast University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518071, China
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8
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Kim J, Kim J, Jin Y, Cho SW. In situbiosensing technologies for an organ-on-a-chip. Biofabrication 2023; 15:042002. [PMID: 37587753 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/aceaae] [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: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Thein vitrosimulation of organs resolves the accuracy, ethical, and cost challenges accompanyingin vivoexperiments. Organoids and organs-on-chips have been developed to model thein vitro, real-time biological and physiological features of organs. Numerous studies have deployed these systems to assess thein vitro, real-time responses of an organ to external stimuli. Particularly, organs-on-chips can be most efficiently employed in pharmaceutical drug development to predict the responses of organs before approving such drugs. Furthermore, multi-organ-on-a-chip systems facilitate the close representations of thein vivoenvironment. In this review, we discuss the biosensing technology that facilitates thein situ, real-time measurements of organ responses as readouts on organ-on-a-chip systems, including multi-organ models. Notably, a human-on-a-chip system integrated with automated multi-sensing will be established by further advancing the development of chips, as well as their assessment techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyoung Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Junghoon Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoonhee Jin
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Woo Cho
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Center for Nanomedicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program of Nano Biomedical Engineering (NanoBME), Advanced Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
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9
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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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10
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Zhang F, Cheng H, Qu K, Qian X, Lin Y, Zhang Y, Qian S, Huang N, Cui C, Chen M. Continuous contractile force and electrical signal recordings of 3D cardiac tissue utilizing conductive hydrogel pillars on a chip. Mater Today Bio 2023; 20:100626. [PMID: 37122834 PMCID: PMC10130626 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100626] [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: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart-on-chip emerged as a potential tool for cardiac tissue engineering, recapitulating key physiological cues in cardiac pathophysiology. Controlled electrical stimulation and the ability to provide directly analyzed functional readouts are essential to evaluate the physiology of cardiac tissues in the heart-on-chip platforms. In this scenario, a novel heart-on-chip platform integrating two soft conductive hydrogel pillar electrodes was presented here. Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) and cardiac fibroblasts were seeded into the apparatus to create 3D human cardiac tissues. The application of electrical stimulation improved functional performance by altering the dynamics of tissue structure and contractile development. The contractile forces that cardiac tissues contract was accurately measured through optical tracking of hydrogel pillar displacement. Furthermore, the conductive properties of hydrogel pillars allowed direct and non-invasive electrophysiology studies, enabling continuous monitoring of signal changes in real-time while dynamically administering drugs to the cardiac tissues, as shown by a chronotropic reaction to isoprenaline and verapamil. Overall, the platform for acquiring contractile force and electrophysiological signals in situ allowed monitoring the tissue development trend without interrupting the culture process and could have diverse applications in preclinical drug testing, disease modeling, and therapeutic discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210000, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Hongyi Cheng
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210000, China
- Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215002, China
| | - Kaiyun Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Xuetian Qian
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 68 Changle Road, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Yongping Lin
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210000, China
| | - Yike Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210000, China
| | - Sichong Qian
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Ningping Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Chang Cui
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210000, China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Minglong Chen
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210000, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
- Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215002, China
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210000, China
- Corresponding author. Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210000, China.
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11
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Spedicati M, Ruocco G, Zoso A, Mortati L, Lapini A, Delledonne A, Divieto C, Romano V, Castaldo C, Di Meglio F, Nurzynska D, Carmagnola I, Chiono V. Biomimetic design of bioartificial scaffolds for the in vitro modelling of human cardiac fibrosis. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:983872. [PMID: 36507252 PMCID: PMC9731288 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.983872] [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: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro models of pathological cardiac tissue have attracted interest as predictive platforms for preclinical validation of therapies. However, models reproducing specific pathological features, such as cardiac fibrosis size (i.e., thickness and width) and stage of development are missing. This research was aimed at engineering 2D and 3D models of early-stage post-infarct fibrotic tissue (i.e., characterized by non-aligned tissue organization) on bioartificial scaffolds with biomimetic composition, design, and surface stiffness. 2D scaffolds with random nanofibrous structure and 3D scaffolds with 150 µm square-meshed architecture were fabricated from polycaprolactone, surface-grafted with gelatin by mussel-inspired approach and coated with cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) by 3 weeks culture of human cardiac fibroblasts. Scaffold physicochemical properties were thoroughly investigated. AFM analysis of scaffolds in wet state, before cell culture, confirmed their close surface stiffness to human cardiac fibrotic tissue. Following 3 weeks culture, biomimetic biophysical and biochemical scaffold properties triggered the activation of myofibroblast phenotype. Upon decellularization, immunostaining, SEM and two-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy showed homogeneous decoration of both 2D and 3D scaffolds with cardiac ECM. The versatility of the approach was demonstrated by culturing ventricular or atrial cardiac fibroblasts on scaffolds, thus suggesting the possibility to use the same scaffold platforms to model both ventricular and atrial cardiac fibrosis. In the future, herein developed in vitro models of cardiac fibrotic tissue, reproducing specific pathological features, will be exploited for a fine preclinical tuning of therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Spedicati
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy,POLITO Biomedlab, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy,Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gerardina Ruocco
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy,POLITO Biomedlab, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy,Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alice Zoso
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy,POLITO Biomedlab, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy,Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research, Pisa, Italy
| | - Leonardo Mortati
- Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRIM), Torino, Italy
| | - Andrea Lapini
- Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRIM), Torino, Italy,Department of Chemistry, Life Science and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Delledonne
- Department of Chemistry, Life Science and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Carla Divieto
- Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRIM), Torino, Italy
| | - Veronica Romano
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples “Federico II”, Napoli, Italy
| | - Clotilde Castaldo
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples “Federico II”, Napoli, Italy
| | - Franca Di Meglio
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples “Federico II”, Napoli, Italy
| | - Daria Nurzynska
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Irene Carmagnola
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy,POLITO Biomedlab, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy,Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research, Pisa, Italy
| | - Valeria Chiono
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy,POLITO Biomedlab, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy,Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research, Pisa, Italy,*Correspondence: Valeria Chiono,
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12
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Visone R, Lozano-Juan F, Marzorati S, Rivolta MW, Pesenti E, Redaelli A, Sassi R, Rasponi M, Occhetta P. Predicting human cardiac QT alterations and pro-arrhythmic effects of compounds with a 3D beating heart-on-chip platform. Toxicol Sci 2022; 191:47-60. [PMID: 36226800 PMCID: PMC9887672 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfac108] [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] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Determining the potential cardiotoxicity and pro-arrhythmic effects of drug candidates remains one of the most relevant issues in the drug development pipeline (DDP). New methods enabling to perform more representative preclinical in vitro studies by exploiting induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CM) are under investigation to increase the translational power of the outcomes. Here we present a pharmacological campaign conducted to evaluate the drug-induced QT alterations and arrhythmic events on uHeart, a 3D miniaturized in vitro model of human myocardium encompassing iPSC-CM and dermal fibroblasts embedded in fibrin. uHeart was mechanically trained resulting in synchronously beating cardiac microtissues in 1 week, characterized by a clear field potential (FP) signal that was recorded by means of an integrated electrical system. A drug screening protocol compliant with the new International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) guidelines was established and uHeart was employed for testing the effect of 11 compounds acting on single or multiple cardiac ion channels and well-known to elicit QT prolongation or arrhythmic events in clinics. The alterations of uHeart's electrophysiological parameters such as the beating period, the FP duration, the FP amplitude, and the detection of arrhythmic events prior and after drug administration at incremental doses were effectively analyzed through a custom-developed algorithm. Results demonstrated the ability of uHeart to successfully anticipate clinical outcome and to predict the QT prolongation with a sensitivity of 83.3%, a specificity of 100% and an accuracy of 91.6%. Cardiotoxic concentrations of drugs were notably detected in the range of the clinical highest blood drug concentration (Cmax), qualifying uHeart as a fit-to-purpose preclinical tool for cardiotoxicity studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Alberto Redaelli
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Roberto Sassi
- Department of Computer Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Marco Rasponi
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy
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13
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Mainardi A, Cambria E, Occhetta P, Martin I, Barbero A, Schären S, Mehrkens A, Krupkova O. Intervertebral Disc-on-a-Chip as Advanced In Vitro Model for Mechanobiology Research and Drug Testing: A Review and Perspective. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 9:826867. [PMID: 35155416 PMCID: PMC8832503 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.826867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Discogenic back pain is one of the most diffused musculoskeletal pathologies and a hurdle to a good quality of life for millions of people. Existing therapeutic options are exclusively directed at reducing symptoms, not at targeting the underlying, still poorly understood, degenerative processes. Common intervertebral disc (IVD) disease models still do not fully replicate the course of degenerative IVD disease. Advanced disease models that incorporate mechanical loading are needed to investigate pathological causes and processes, as well as to identify therapeutic targets. Organs-on-chip (OoC) are microfluidic-based devices that aim at recapitulating tissue functions in vitro by introducing key features of the tissue microenvironment (e.g., 3D architecture, soluble signals and mechanical conditioning). In this review we analyze and depict existing OoC platforms used to investigate pathological alterations of IVD cells/tissues and discuss their benefits and limitations. Starting from the consideration that mechanobiology plays a pivotal role in both IVD homeostasis and degeneration, we then focus on OoC settings enabling to recapitulate physiological or aberrant mechanical loading, in conjunction with other relevant features (such as inflammation). Finally, we propose our view on design criteria for IVD-on-a-chip systems, offering a future perspective to model IVD mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Mainardi
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Elena Cambria
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Paola Occhetta
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ivan Martin
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Barbero
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Schären
- Spine Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Arne Mehrkens
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Spine Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Olga Krupkova
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Spine Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Lepage Research Institute, University of Prešov, Prešov, Slovakia
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14
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Pang JKS, Ho BX, Chan WK, Soh BS. Insights to Heart Development and Cardiac Disease Models Using Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived 3D Organoids. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:788955. [PMID: 34926467 PMCID: PMC8675211 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.788955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Medical research in the recent years has achieved significant progress due to the increasing prominence of organoid technology. Various developed tissue organoids bridge the limitations of conventional 2D cell culture and animal models by recapitulating in vivo cellular complexity. Current 3D cardiac organoid cultures have shown their utility in modelling key developmental hallmarks of heart organogenesis, but the complexity of the organ demands a more versatile model that can investigate more fundamental parameters, such as structure, organization and compartmentalization of a functioning heart. This review will cover the prominence of cardiac organoids in recent research, unpack current in vitro 3D models of the developing heart and look into the prospect of developing physiologically appropriate cardiac organoids with translational applicability. In addition, we discuss some of the limitations of existing cardiac organoid models in modelling embryonic development of the heart and manifestation of cardiac diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Kah Sheng Pang
- Disease Modeling and Therapeutics Laboratory, ASTAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Beatrice Xuan Ho
- Disease Modeling and Therapeutics Laboratory, ASTAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Woon-Khiong Chan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Boon-Seng Soh
- Disease Modeling and Therapeutics Laboratory, ASTAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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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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Mainardi A, Carminati F, Ugolini GS, Occhetta P, Isu G, Robles Diaz D, Reid G, Visone R, Rasponi M, Marsano A. A dynamic microscale mid-throughput fibrosis model to investigate the effects of different ratios of cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:4177-4195. [PMID: 34545378 PMCID: PMC8547330 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00092f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is a maladaptive remodeling of the myocardium hallmarked by contraction impairment and excessive extracellular matrix deposition (ECM). The disease progression, nevertheless, remains poorly understood and present treatments are not capable of controlling the scarring process. This is partly due to the absence of physiologically relevant, easily operable, and low-cost in vitro models, which are of the utmost importance to uncover pathological mechanisms and highlight possible targets for anti-fibrotic therapies. In classic models, fibrotic features are usually obtained using substrates with scar mimicking stiffness and/or supplementation of morphogens such as transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1). Qualities such as the interplay between activated fibroblasts (FBs) and cardiomyocytes (CMs), or the mechanically active, three-dimensional (3D) environment, are, however, neglected or obtained at the expense of the number of experimental replicates achievable. To overcome these shortcomings, we engineered a micro-physiological system (MPS) where multiple 3D cardiac micro-tissues can be subjected to cyclical stretching simultaneously. Up to six different biologically independent samples are incorporated in a single device, increasing the experimental throughput and paving the way for higher yielding drug screening campaigns. The newly developed MPS was used to co-culture different ratios of neonatal rat CMs and FBs, investigating the role of CMs in the modulation of fibrosis traits, without the addition of morphogens, and in soft substrates. The expression of contractile stress fibers and of degradative enzymes, as well as the deposition of fibronectin and type I collagen were superior in microtissues with a low amount of CMs. Moreover, high CM-based microconstructs simulating a ratio similar to that of healthy tissues, even if subjected to both cyclic stretch and TGF-β1, did not show any of the investigated fibrotic signs, indicating a CM fibrosis modulating effect. Overall, this in vitro fibrosis model could help to uncover new pathological aspects studying, with mid-throughput and in a mechanically active, physiologically relevant environment, the crosstalk between the most abundant cell types involved in fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Mainardi
- Departments of Biomedicine and Surgery, University Basel and University Hospital Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland.
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Carminati
- Departments of Biomedicine and Surgery, University Basel and University Hospital Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland.
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Giovanni Stefano Ugolini
- Departments of Biomedicine and Surgery, University Basel and University Hospital Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Paola Occhetta
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
- BiomimX S.r.l., Via Giovanni Durando 38/A, 20158 Milano, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Isu
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Diana Robles Diaz
- Departments of Biomedicine and Surgery, University Basel and University Hospital Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Gregory Reid
- Departments of Biomedicine and Surgery, University Basel and University Hospital Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Roberta Visone
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Marco Rasponi
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Anna Marsano
- Departments of Biomedicine and Surgery, University Basel and University Hospital Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland.
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17
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Ferrari E, Rasponi M. Liver-Heart on chip models for drug safety. APL Bioeng 2021; 5:031505. [PMID: 34286172 PMCID: PMC8282347 DOI: 10.1063/5.0048986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Current pre-clinical models to evaluate drug safety during the drug development process (DDP) mainly rely on traditional two-dimensional cell cultures, considered too simplistic and often ineffective, or animal experimentations, which are costly, time-consuming, and not truly representative of human responses. Their clinical translation thus remains limited, eventually causing attrition and leading to high rates of failure during clinical trials. These drawbacks can be overcome by the recently developed Organs-on-Chip (OoC) technology. OoC are sophisticated in vitro systems capable of recapitulating pivotal architecture and functionalities of human organs. OoC are receiving increasing attention from the stakeholders of the DDP, particularly concerning drug screening and safety applications. When a drug is administered in the human body, it is metabolized by the liver and the resulting compound may cause unpredicted toxicity on off-target organs such as the heart. In this sense, several liver and heart models have been widely adopted to assess the toxicity of new or recalled drugs. Recent advances in OoC technology are making available platforms encompassing multiple organs fluidically connected to efficiently assess and predict the systemic effects of compounds. Such Multi-Organs-on-Chip (MOoC) platforms represent a disruptive solution to study drug-related effects, which results particularly useful to predict liver metabolism on off-target organs to ultimately improve drug safety testing in the pre-clinical phases of the DDP. In this review, we focus on recently developed liver and heart on chip systems for drug toxicity testing. In addition, MOoC platforms encompassing connected liver and heart tissues have been further reviewed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Ferrari
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Marco Rasponi
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
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18
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3D bioprinted and integrated platforms for cardiac tissue modeling and drug testing. Essays Biochem 2021; 65:545-554. [PMID: 34269790 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20200106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in biofabrication techniques, including 3D bioprinting, have allowed for the fabrication of cardiac models that are similar to the human heart in terms of their structure (e.g., volumetric scale and anatomy) and function (e.g., contractile and electrical properties). The importance of developing techniques for assessing the characteristics of 3D cardiac substitutes in real time without damaging their structures has also been emphasized. In particular, the heart has two primary mechanisms for transporting blood through the body: contractility and an electrical system based on intra and extracellular calcium ion exchange. This review introduces recent trends in 3D bioprinted cardiac tissues and the measurement of their structural, contractile, and electrical properties in real time. Cardiac models have also been regarded as alternatives to animal models as drug-testing platforms. Thus, perspectives on the convergence of 3D bioprinted cardiac tissues and their assessment for use in drug development are also presented.
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19
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Cruz-Moreira D, Visone R, Vasques-Nóvoa F, S Barros A, Leite-Moreira A, Redaelli A, Moretti M, Rasponi M. Assessing the influence of perfusion on cardiac microtissue maturation: A heart-on-chip platform embedding peristaltic pump capabilities. Biotechnol Bioeng 2021; 118:3128-3137. [PMID: 34019719 PMCID: PMC8362142 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Heart‐on‐chip is an unprecedented technology for recapitulating key biochemical and biophysical cues in cardiac pathophysiology. Several designs have been proposed to improve its ability to mimic the native tissue and establish it as a reliable research platform. However, despite mimicking one of most vascularized organs, reliable strategies to deliver oxygen and substrates to densely packed constructs of metabolically demanding cells remain unsettled. Herein, we describe a new heart‐on‐chip platform with precise fluid control, integrating an on‐chip peristaltic pump, allowing automated and fine control over flow on channels flanking a 3D cardiac culture. The application of distinct flow rates impacted on temporal dynamics of microtissue structural and transcriptional maturation, improving functional performance. Moreover, a widespread transcriptional response was observed, suggesting flow‐mediated activation of critical pathways of cardiomyocyte structural and functional maturation and inhibition of cardiomyocyte hypoxic injury. In conclusion, the present design represents an important advance in bringing engineered cardiac microtissues closer to the native heart, overcoming traditional bulky off‐chip fluid handling systems, improving microtissue performance, and matching oxygen and energy substrate requirements of metabolically active constructs, avoiding cellular hypoxia. Distinct flow patterns differently impact on microtissue performance and gene expression program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Cruz-Moreira
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Roberta Visone
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Francisco Vasques-Nóvoa
- Cardiovascular Research and Development Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - António S Barros
- Cardiovascular Research and Development Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Adelino Leite-Moreira
- Cardiovascular Research and Development Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Alberto Redaelli
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Matteo Moretti
- Cell and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy.,Regenerative Medicine Technologies Lab, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Marco Rasponi
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
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