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In vitro approaches to mimic cardiac mechanical load dynamics for enhancing maturation and disease modelling
Mariel Cano-Jorge1, Sofia Gómez2,3, Jaap den Toonder2,3
1Applied Stem Cell Technologies, Department of BioEngineering Technologies, Cardiovascular Health Technology Centre, TechMed Centre, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
Cardiovascular Research
|November 20, 2025
Summary
Replicating cardiac preload and afterload in vitro using engineered tissues promotes human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte maturation. These mechanical stimuli are crucial for developing advanced cardiac models and disease research.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Stem Cell Biology
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) advance cardiac tissue engineering for in vitro heart models.
- Achieving full maturation of hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes remains a challenge.
- Current strategies incorporate passive and active mechanical cues to mimic the native cardiac environment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of mechanical stimuli in cardiac development and cardiomyocyte maturation.
- To explore how cardiac preload and afterload dynamics can be replicated in vitro.
- To highlight applications in disease modeling.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on mechanical stimuli in cardiac development.
- Analysis of in vitro platforms for replicating preload and afterload (e.g., engineered heart tissues, stretchable membranes, bioactuators, engineered cardiac chambers, microtissues).
- Examination of stimulation parameters in dynamic preload modeling.
Main Results:
- Mechanical stimuli, particularly preload and afterload, are key to cardiomyocyte maturation and cardiac function.
- Various engineered platforms can replicate active mechanical loads in vitro.
- Dynamic preload modeling incorporates active mechanical loads for disease modeling.
Conclusions:
- Replicating dynamic mechanical loads like preload and afterload is essential for cardiomyocyte maturation.
- Engineered heart tissues and other advanced platforms offer promising avenues for in vitro cardiac modeling.
- Understanding and applying these mechanical stimuli can improve disease modeling and therapeutic development.
