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Generation of Aligned Functional Myocardial Tissue Through Microcontact Printing
Published on: March 19, 2013
Cardiac tissue engineering using tissue printing technology and human cardiac progenitor cells
Roberto Gaetani1, Peter A Doevendans, Corina H G Metz
1Dept. of Cardiology, Division of Heart & Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. R.Gaetani@umcutrecht.nl
Biomaterials
|December 6, 2011
Summary
Tissue printing technology (TP) successfully combined human cardiac progenitor cells with biomaterials. This tissue engineering approach maintained cell viability and cardiac lineage commitment for potential therapeutic applications.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Biomaterials Science
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Cell therapy faces challenges in cell retention and survival.
- Tissue engineering offers solutions for mechanical support and cell delivery.
- Tissue printing technology (TP) enables organized delivery of cells and biomaterials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the combination of TP, human cardiac-derived cardiomyocyte progenitor cells (hCMPCs), and biomaterials.
- To create a construct with cardiogenic potential for in vitro and in vivo applications.
- To assess the viability and cardiac lineage commitment of printed hCMPCs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized tissue printing technology (TP) to combine hCMPCs with biomaterials.
- Generated an in vitro tissue construct with homogenous cell distribution.
- Assessed cell viability, cardiac gene expression, and cell migration post-printing.
Main Results:
- Achieved homogenous cell distribution within the scaffold.
- Demonstrated high cell viability (92% at 1 day, 89% at 7 days).
- Confirmed retention of cardiac lineage commitment, with enhanced expression of cardiac transcription factors and TroponinT.
- Observed cell migration and formation of tubular structures in a matrigel layer.
Conclusions:
- TP is a viable method for defined cell delivery in tissue engineering.
- Printed hCMPCs retain functional properties and cardiogenic potential.
- This approach holds promise for in vitro and in vivo therapeutic applications in cardiac repair.
