Interferometric Biosensor for High Sensitive Label-Free Recording of HiPS Cardiomyocytes Contraction in Vitro

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiovascular Research
• Stem Cell Technology

Background:

• Heart disease is a major global health concern, necessitating advanced tools for research and treatment development.
• Studying human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) cardiomyocyte function is crucial for understanding cardiac diseases and testing therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce an innovative, label-free interferometric biosensor for high-sensitivity in vitro assessment of hiPSC cardiomyocyte contraction.
• To demonstrate the biosensor's capability in quantifying spontaneous contractions and drug-induced effects on contractility.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an optical cavity to capture interference patterns generated by contraction-induced membrane displacement.
• Quantified spontaneous cardiomyocyte contractions and relaxation phases.
• Measured drug compound effects on contractility amplitude and contractile forces.

Main Results:

• Successfully quantified spontaneous hiPSC cardiomyocyte contractions with high sensitivity.
• Determined a contraction-induced vertical membrane displacement of approximately 40 nm, corresponding to a traction stress of 34 ± 4 mN/mm².
• Observed a significant reduction in contractile forces upon drug compound application.

Conclusions:

• The label-free interferometric biosensor provides a novel, noninvasive, and real-time method for assessing cardiomyocyte contraction.
• The high-throughput nature of the biosensor can significantly enhance drug screening and development for cardiac treatments.
• This technology offers a valuable tool for advancing cardiovascular disease research.