Engineered In Vitro Multi‐Cell Type Ventricle Model Generates Long‐Term Pulsatile Flow and Modulates Cardiac Output in Response to Cardioactive Drugs

Advanced Healthcare Materials, vol. 14, pp. e2403897

Abstract

Abstract Cardiac in vitro models serve as promising platforms for physiological and pathological studies, drug testing, and regenerative medicine. This study hypothesizes that immobilizing cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC‐CMs) on a biofunctionalized, hemispherical membrane can generate pulsatile flow through synchronized contractions, thus offering as an in vitro left ventricle model. To test this, a ventricle using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane coated with polydopamine and laminin 511 E8 fragments is engineered. Human iPSC‐CMs are cultured on these membranes, alone or in co‐culture with cardiac fibroblasts or endothelial cells, for 28 and 14 days, respectively, in a newly developed bioreactor. Flow measurements track beating and flow generation, while drug response, cardiac gene expression, and cell morphology are analyzed. The engineered ventricles maintain continuous beating and flow, achieving a theoretical cardiac output of up to 4 µL min −1 over 28 days, indicating stable cell adhesion and synchronized contraction. Cardiomyocytes respond to cardioactive drugs (carbachol, isoproterenol) and show expected changes in heart rate and cardiac output. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that the proposed engineered ventricle can serve as an in vitro left ventricle model by supporting cardiomyocyte culture and differentiation, generating long‐term stable flow, and responding physiologically to cardioactive drugs.

Authors 6

1. Christoph Kuckelkorn Aachen Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research RWTH Aachen University Hospital Pauwelsstrasse 30 52074 Aachen Germany

   Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

2. Ebru Aksoy

   University of Cologne · University Hospital Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology Institute for Neurophysiology University and University Hospital of Cologne Robert Koch Str. 39 50931 Cologne Germany

   Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute for Neurophysiology, University and University Hospital of Cologne, Robert Koch Str. 39, 50931 Cologne, Germany

3. Laila Oulahyane Aachen Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research RWTH Aachen University Hospital Pauwelsstrasse 30 52074 Aachen Germany

   Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

4. Mira Ritter Aachen Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research RWTH Aachen University Hospital Pauwelsstrasse 30 52074 Aachen Germany

   Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

5. Kurt Pfannkuche

   University of Cologne · University Hospital Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) 50931 Cologne Germany

   Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology Institute for Neurophysiology University and University Hospital of Cologne Robert Koch Str. 39 50931 Cologne Germany

   Marga‐and‐Walter‐Boll‐Laboratory for Cardiac Tissue Engineering 50931 Cologne Germany

   Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), 50931 Cologne, Germany

   Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute for Neurophysiology, University and University Hospital of Cologne, Robert Koch Str. 39, 50931 Cologne, Germany

   Marga-and-Walter-Boll-Laboratory for Cardiac Tissue Engineering, 50931 Cologne, Germany

6. Horst Fischer corresponding Aachen Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research RWTH Aachen University Hospital Pauwelsstrasse 30 52074 Aachen Germany

   Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany