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Updated: May 4, 2026

Simultaneous Electrical and Mechanical Stimulation to Enhance Cells' Cardiomyogenic Potential
Published on: January 18, 2019
Use of flow, electrical, and mechanical stimulation to promote engineering of striated muscles
Swathi Rangarajan1, Lauran Madden, Nenad Bursac
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, 3000 Science Drive, Hudson Hall-Engineering, Room 136, P.O. Box 90281, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
Abstract:
The field of tissue engineering involves design of high-fidelity tissue substitutes for predictive experimental assays in vitro and cell-based regenerative therapies in vivo. Design of striated muscle tissues, such as cardiac and skeletal muscle, has been particularly challenging due to a high metabolic demand and complex cellular organization and electromechanical function of the native tissues. Successful engineering of highly functional striated muscles may thus require creation of biomimetic culture conditions involving medium perfusion, electrical and mechanical stimulation. When optimized, these external cues are expected to synergistically and dynamically activate important intracellular signaling pathways leading to accelerated muscle growth and development. This review will discuss the use of different types of tissue culture bioreactors aimed at providing conditions for enhanced structural and functional maturation of engineered striated muscles.
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