Biologically Derived, Three-Dimensional, Embryonic Scaffolds for Long-Term Cardiomyocyte Culture

The ability to maintain viable cultures of mature, primary cardiomyocytes is challenging. The lack of viable cardiomyocyte cultures severely limits in vitro biochemical assays, toxicology assays, drug screening assays, and other analyses. Here, we describe a novel three-dimensional (3D) embryonic scaffold, which supports the culture of postnatal day 7 murine cardiomyocytes within the embryonic heart for, at least, 28 days. We have observed that these cardiomyocytes display normal differentiation, protein expression, and function after extended culture. This novel culture system will allow for prolonged treatment of cardiomyocytes in a natural 3D orientation and has the potential for providing a superior tool for the screening of therapeutic compounds.