Study of contraction profile of cardiomyocytes by using a piezoelectric membrane

In this paper, we report our study on using a piezoelectric membrane to measure the contraction profile of Human iPSC cardiomyocytes. To guide HiPSC cardiomyocytes aligned concentrically with respect to the circular-shape piezoelectric membrane, 20 μm polydimethylsiloxane micro-grooves with 20 μm separation are molded on top of the piezoelectric membrane to form multiple concentric rings. Gelatin or fibronectin is coated on the microgrooves for promoting cell adhesions. Using this method, repeated contractions can be measured by using the circular piezoelectric membrane, and the contraction profile can be monitored. To study the performance of the piezoelectric membrane, different dosage of commercial drugs are used, including Isoproterenol and Metoprolol. Experimental results demonstrated that the piezoelectric membrane can measure the contraction profile of cardiomyocytes. Cellular responses to different drugs and dosage can be monitored electrically.