Graphene SU-8 Platform for Enhanced Cardiomyocyte Maturation and Intercellular Communication in Cardiac Drug...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Cardiovascular Research
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Traditional in vitro cardiomyocyte models inadequately mimic native cardiac tissue's biochemical and electrophysiological properties.
• Developing advanced cell culture substrates is crucial for accurate study of cardiomyocyte maturation and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the influence of monolayer graphene on SU-8 cantilevers with microelectrode arrays on cardiomyocyte properties.
• To assess graphene's potential for enhancing cardiomyocyte maturation, electrophysiology, and drug response in vitro.

Main Methods:

• Monolayer graphene synthesized via chemical vapor deposition was transferred onto SU-8 cantilevers with microelectrode arrays.
• Electrical conductivity measurements, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot analyses were performed.
• Cardiomyocyte conduction velocity and drug responsiveness were assessed.

Main Results:

• Graphene-enhanced SU-8 substrates exhibited high electrical conductivity (approx. 1600 S/cm).
• Graphene significantly improved cardiomyocyte maturation and cardiac marker expression compared to bare SU-8.
• Cardiomyocytes on graphene substrates showed a 3.4-fold increase in conduction velocity and enhanced drug responsiveness.

Conclusions:

• Monolayer graphene on SU-8 substrates provides a feasible approach to accelerate cardiomyocyte maturation.
• This platform enhances electro-mechano-physiological properties, improving drug screening applications for cardiovascular drugs.