Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 5, 2025
04:40
Creation of Cardiac Tissue Exhibiting Mechanical Integration of Spheroids Using 3D Bioprinting
Published on: July 2, 2017
10.4K
Printing biohybrid materials for bioelectronic cardio-3D-cellular constructs.
Paola Sanjuan-Alberte1,2,3, Charlie Whitehead1, Joshua N Jones1
1Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
Iscience
|July 5, 2022
Summary
This study introduces conductive hydrogels made from decellularized extracellular matrix and carbon nanotubes for bioelectronics. These biohybrid materials enhance cardiomyocyte function, with or without electrical stimulation, promoting cell maturation.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Bioelectronics
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Conductive hydrogels are crucial for bridging biological and electronic systems in bioelectronic applications.
- Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) offers a promising natural scaffold for biomaterials.
- Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) provide electrical conductivity to hydrogel systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize biohybrid conductive bioinks using dECM and MWCNTs.
- To investigate the effect of these conductive bioinks on the contractile behavior and maturation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs).
- To explore the synergistic effects of material conductivity and electrical stimulation (ES) on cell function.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of conductive bioinks by combining dECM and MWCNTs.
- Bioprinting of 3D structures using the developed bioinks.
- Culturing hPSC-CMs within the bioprinted constructs.
- Application of electrical stimulation to the cell-laden constructs.
- Assessment of cell contractile behavior and gene expression analysis.
Main Results:
- The developed bioinks retained dECM fiber morphology and exhibited conductive properties.
- Bioprinted hPSC-CMs showed improved contractile behavior due to the conductive hydrogel, an effect amplified by external ES.
- Genetic analysis revealed a trend towards increased cell maturation, with altered expression of calcium handling proteins and channels.
Conclusions:
- The proposed strategy successfully creates conductive biohybrid hydrogels for bioelectronic applications.
- These materials enhance cardiomyocyte function and maturation, demonstrating potential for engineered tissues.
- The developed conductive hydrogels are suitable for fabricating complex geometries for actuating purposes.
