Fabrication and evaluation of reconstructed cardiac tissue and its application to bio-actuated microdevices

In this paper, we proposed to utilize a reconstructed cardiac tissue as microactuator with easy assembly. In a glucose solution, cardiomyocytes can contract autonomously using only chemical energy. However, a single cardiomyocyte is not enough to actuate a microrobot or a mechanical system. Though the output power will increase by using multiple cardiomyocyte, it is difficult to assemble those cardiomyocyte to predefined positions one-by-one using a micromanipulator. Reconstructed cardiac tissue not only will enable researchers to assemble the cells easily and but also has a potential to improve the contractile ability. To realize a bio-actuator in this paper, we reconstructed a microcardiac tissue using an extracellular matrix, and their displacements, displacement frequency, contractile force, and lifetime of the reconstructed cardiac tissue were evaluated. Electrical and pharmacological responses of the reconstructed cardiac tissue were also evaluated. Finally, a bioactuator, a primitive micropillar actuator, was fabricated and applicability of the reconstructed cardiac tissue for bioactuators was evaluated.