1
|
Gokhan I, Blum TS, Campbell SG. Engineered heart tissue: Design considerations and the state of the art. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2024; 5:021308. [PMID: 38912258 PMCID: PMC11192576 DOI: 10.1063/5.0202724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Originally developed more than 20 years ago, engineered heart tissue (EHT) has become an important tool in cardiovascular research for applications such as disease modeling and drug screening. Innovations in biomaterials, stem cell biology, and bioengineering, among other fields, have enabled EHT technologies to recapitulate many aspects of cardiac physiology and pathophysiology. While initial EHT designs were inspired by the isolated-trabecula culture system, current designs encompass a variety of formats, each of which have unique strengths and limitations. In this review, we describe the most common EHT formats, and then systematically evaluate each aspect of their design, emphasizing the rational selection of components for each application.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas S. Blum
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gao H, Wang Z, Yang F, Wang X, Wang S, Zhang Q, Liu X, Sun Y, Kong J, Yao J. Graphene-integrated mesh electronics with converged multifunctionality for tracking multimodal excitation-contraction dynamics in cardiac microtissues. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2321. [PMID: 38485708 PMCID: PMC10940632 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46636-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiac microtissues provide a promising platform for disease modeling and developmental studies, which require the close monitoring of the multimodal excitation-contraction dynamics. However, no existing assessing tool can track these multimodal dynamics across the live tissue. We develop a tissue-like mesh bioelectronic system to track these multimodal dynamics. The mesh system has tissue-level softness and cell-level dimensions to enable stable embedment in the tissue. It is integrated with an array of graphene sensors, which uniquely converges both bioelectrical and biomechanical sensing functionalities in one device. The system achieves stable tracking of the excitation-contraction dynamics across the tissue and throughout the developmental process, offering comprehensive assessments for tissue maturation, drug effects, and disease modeling. It holds the promise to provide more accurate quantification of the functional, developmental, and pathophysiological states in cardiac tissues, creating an instrumental tool for improving tissue engineering and studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Gao
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Zhien Wang
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Feiyu Yang
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Siqi Wang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Quan Zhang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Xiaomeng Liu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Yubing Sun
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Jing Kong
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Jun Yao
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Chen X, Liu S, Han M, Long M, Li T, Hu L, Wang L, Huang W, Wu Y. Engineering Cardiac Tissue for Advanced Heart-On-A-Chip Platforms. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2301338. [PMID: 37471526 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality worldwide, and current preclinical models including traditional animal models and 2D cell culture models have limitations in replicating human native heart physiology and response to drugs. Heart-on-a-chip (HoC) technology offers a promising solution by combining the advantages of cardiac tissue engineering and microfluidics to create in vitro 3D cardiac models, which can mimic key aspects of human microphysiological systems and provide controllable microenvironments. Herein, recent advances in HoC technologies are introduced, including engineered cardiac microtissue construction in vitro, microfluidic chip fabrication, microenvironmental stimulation, and real-time feedback systems. The development of cardiac tissue engineering methods is focused for 3D microtissue preparation, advanced strategies for HoC fabrication, and current applications of these platforms. Major challenges in HoC fabrication are discussed and the perspective on the potential for these platforms is provided to advance research and clinical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Chen
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Translation of Medical 3D Printing Application, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Medicine and Biomechanics, Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Sitian Liu
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Translation of Medical 3D Printing Application, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Medicine and Biomechanics, Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Mingying Han
- Biomaterials Research Center, School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Meng Long
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Translation of Medical 3D Printing Application, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Medicine and Biomechanics, Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Ting Li
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Translation of Medical 3D Printing Application, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Medicine and Biomechanics, Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Lanlan Hu
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Translation of Medical 3D Printing Application, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Medicine and Biomechanics, Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Biomaterials Research Center, School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Wenhua Huang
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Translation of Medical 3D Printing Application, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Medicine and Biomechanics, Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yaobin Wu
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Translation of Medical 3D Printing Application, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Medicine and Biomechanics, Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Li C, Zhao R, Yang H, Ren L. Construction of Bone Hypoxic Microenvironment Based on Bone-on-a-Chip Platforms. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24086999. [PMID: 37108162 PMCID: PMC10139217 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24086999] [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: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The normal physiological activities and functions of bone cells cannot be separated from the balance of the oxygenation level, and the physiological activities of bone cells are different under different oxygenation levels. At present, in vitro cell cultures are generally performed in a normoxic environment, and the partial pressure of oxygen of a conventional incubator is generally set at 141 mmHg (18.6%, close to the 20.1% oxygen in ambient air). This value is higher than the mean value of the oxygen partial pressure in human bone tissue. Additionally, the further away from the endosteal sinusoids, the lower the oxygen content. It follows that the construction of a hypoxic microenvironment is the key point of in vitro experimental investigation. However, current methods of cellular research cannot realize precise control of oxygenation levels at the microscale, and the development of microfluidic platforms can overcome the inherent limitations of these methods. In addition to discussing the characteristics of the hypoxic microenvironment in bone tissue, this review will discuss various methods of constructing oxygen gradients in vitro and measuring oxygen tension from the microscale based on microfluidic technology. This integration of advantages and disadvantages to perfect the experimental study will help us to study the physiological responses of cells under more physiological-relevant conditions and provide a new strategy for future research on various in vitro cell biomedicines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Li
- Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo Institute of Northwestern Polytechnical University, Ningbo 315103, China
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Rong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo Institute of Northwestern Polytechnical University, Ningbo 315103, China
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Li Ren
- Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo Institute of Northwestern Polytechnical University, Ningbo 315103, China
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| |
Collapse
|