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Fabrication of 3D Cardiac Microtissue Arrays using Human iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes, Cardiac Fibroblasts, and Endothelial Cells
Published on: March 14, 2021
Quantitative evaluation of cardiomyocyte contractility in a 3D microenvironment
Jinseok Kim1, Jungyul Park, Kyounghwan Na
1Nano-Bio Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 131, Cheongryang, Seoul 130-650, Republic of Korea. jinseok@kist.re.kr
Journal of Biomechanics
|July 23, 2008
Summary
Three-dimensional (3D) cardiomyocyte cultures on grooved surfaces significantly enhanced contractile force by 65-85% compared to flat surfaces. This 3D bioprinting approach improves cell-to-cell interactions and cytoskeletal organization for advanced tissue engineering.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Cell Biology
- Biomaterials Engineering
Background:
- Three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures mimic in vivo conditions, offering advantages over traditional 2D cultures for biological studies.
- Microfabricated environments and hybrid biopolymer microcantilevers enable precise control and measurement of cellular behavior.
- Understanding cardiomyocyte contractility in 3D is crucial for cardiac tissue engineering and disease modeling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify and compare the contractility of cardiomyocytes in a 3D microfabricated environment versus a 2D environment.
- To investigate the influence of surface topography (grooved vs. flat) on cardiomyocyte contractility and cellular responses.
- To elucidate the underlying cellular mechanisms, including cytoskeletal organization and cell-cell interactions, in 3D cultures.
Main Methods:
- Utilized complex 3D hybrid biopolymer microcantilevers for culturing cardiomyocytes.
- Quantified cardiomyocyte contractility by measuring microcantilever deflections under varying surface conditions (grooved vs. flat).
- Employed finite element modeling (FEM) to analyze focal pressures and correlate with measured forces.
- Validated findings using immunostaining for cytoskeletal and nuclear morphology and quantitative RT-PCR for gene expression analysis.
Main Results:
- Cardiomyocyte contractile force was 65-85% higher on 3D grooved surfaces compared to flat surfaces.
- Immunostaining revealed enhanced alignment of the cytoskeleton and elongation of nuclei on grooved surfaces.
- Quantitative RT-PCR indicated sustained cellular stimuli and tighter cell-to-cell interactions in 3D grooved cultures.
- Finite element modeling supported the experimental findings on contractile force.
Conclusions:
- 3D microfabricated environments, particularly with grooved surfaces, significantly enhance cardiomyocyte contractility.
- Surface topography plays a critical role in modulating cellular behavior, cytoskeletal organization, and cell-cell interactions in 3D cultures.
- This study provides a robust platform for investigating cardiomyocyte function and developing advanced cardiac tissue models.
