3D cardiac μtissues within a microfluidic device with real-time contractile stress readout

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiovascular Research
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Accurate assessment of cardiac tissue function is crucial for drug discovery.
• Existing methods for measuring cardiac contractility often lack real-time, in situ capabilities.
• Development of advanced 3D models is needed to better mimic in vivo cardiac physiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel three-dimensional (3D) cardiac microtissue system.
• To enable real-time, in situ quantification of contractile stress.
• To create a cost-effective and adaptable platform for cardiac research and drug screening.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of 3D cardiac microtissues using 3D patterning technology within a microfluidic device.
• Encapsulation of neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes in a degradable gelatin methacrylate hydrogel.
• Integration of polyacrylamide hydrogels as stress sensors for contractile force measurement.
• Perfusion of cell-laden structures within the microfluidic system.

Main Results:

• Successful creation of an array of 3D cardiac microtissues with precise cell distribution.
• Demonstrated real-time measurement of contractile stress generated by beating cardiac microtissues.
• Observed increased beating frequency and stress magnitude in response to epinephrine exposure.
• Validated the system's responsiveness to known cardiac stimulants.

Conclusions:

• The developed 3D cardiac microtissue system provides a robust platform for functional assessment.
• This microfluidic-based approach allows for precise, real-time measurement of cardiac contractile stress.
• The system's cost-effectiveness and adaptability make it a promising tool for drug discovery and development in cardiovascular research.