We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Cardiac Researchers Use Stem Cells to Generate Functional Heart Muscle

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 03 May 2016
Print article
Stem cell researchers have developed a new technique to form micro-scale arrays of engineered heart muscle (EHM) from fewer than 10,000 starter cells without requirement for adherence features or extracellular matrix (ECM).

Tissue engineering approaches have the potential to increase the physiologic relevance of cells, such as cardiomyocytes, derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). However, forming engineered heart muscle (EHM) typically requires more than one million cells per tissue. Existing miniaturization strategies involve complex approaches not suitable for mass production, limiting the ability to use EHM for iPSC-based disease modeling and drug screening. Microscale cardiospheres are easily produced, but do not facilitate assembly of elongated muscle or direct force measurements.

Investigators at the Gladstone Institute (San Francisco, CA, USA) recently described a new approach for preparing EHM that dramatically reduced the number of cells needed, making it an easier, cheaper, and more efficient system.

Initially, the investigators generated heart muscle cells and connective tissue cells from iPSCs. They then cultured combinations of these cells in a special vessel that resembled a tiny dog bone. This unique shape encouraged the cells to self-organize into elongated muscle fibers. Within a few days, the micro tissues resembled heart muscle both structurally and functionally.

The EHM prepared by this method exhibited uniaxial contractility and alignment, robust sarcomere assembly, and reduced variability and hypersensitivity in drug responsiveness compared to monolayers with the same cellular composition.

“The beauty of this technique is that it is very easy and robust, but it still allows you to create three-dimensional miniature tissues that function like normal tissues,” said senior author Dr. Bruce Conklin, senior investigator of cardiovascular disease at the Gladstone Institute. “Our research shows that you can create these complex tissues with a simple template that exploits the inherent properties of these cells to self-organize. We think that the micro heart muscle will provide a superior resource for conducting research and developing therapies for heart disease.”

Related Links:
Gladstone Institute

HLX
Gold Supplier
ESR Analyzer
miniiSED™
New
Cardiac Test
ImmunTech Cardiac Triple Test
New
Immunoassay Analyzer
DxI 9000

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chem.

view channel
Image: Electrochemical cells etched by laser on wooden tongue depressor measure glucose and nitrite in saliva (Photo courtesy of Analytical Chemistry)

Biosensor-Fabricated Wooden Tongue Depressor Measures Glucose and Nitrite in Saliva

Physicians often use tongue depressors to examine a patient's mouth and throat. However, it is hard to imagine that this simple wooden tool could actively assess a patient's health. This idea has led to... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The Atellica HEMA 570 and 580 hematology analyzers remove workflow barriers (Photo courtesy of Siemens)

Next-Gen Hematology Analyzers Eliminate Workflow Roadblocks and Achieve Fast Throughput

Hematology testing is a critical aspect of patient care, utilized to establish a patient's health baseline, track treatment progress, or guide timely modifications to care. However, increasing constraints... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: Newly observed anti-FSP antibodies have also been found to predict immune-related adverse events (Photo courtesy of Calviri)

First Blood-Based Biomarkers Test to Predict Treatment Response in Cancer Patients

Every year worldwide, lung cancer afflicts over two million individuals and almost the same number of people succumb to the disease. This malignancy leads the charts in cancer-related mortalities, with... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The rapid MTB strip test for tuberculosis can identify TB patients within two hours (Photo courtesy of Chulalongkorn University)

Rapid MTB Strip Test Detects Tuberculosis in Less Than an Hour without Special Tools

Tuberculosis (TB), a highly infectious disease, continues to pose significant challenges to public health worldwide. TB is caused by a bacterium known as "Mycobacterium tuberculosis," spreading through... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: The UNIQO 160 (CE-IVDR) advances diagnostic analysis for autoimmune diseases (Photo courtesy of EUROIMMUN)

Novel Automated IIFT System Enables Cutting-Edge Diagnostic Analysis

A newly-launched automated indirect immunofluorescence test (IIFT) system for autoimmune disease diagnostics offers an all-in-one solution to enhance the efficiency of the complete IIFT process, comprising... Read more

Technology

view channel
Electronic biosensor uses DNA aptamers for detecting biomarkers in whole blood samples (Photo courtesy of Freepik)

Electronic Biosensor Detects Biomarkers in Whole Blood Samples without Addition of Reagents

The absence of robust, reliable, and user-friendly bioanalytical tools for early and timely diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases, particularly sudden cardiac arrest, leads to preventable deaths and imposes... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: The global HbA1c testing devices market is expected to reach USD 2.56 billion in 2027 (Photo courtesy of Freepik)

Global Hemoglobin A1c Testing Devices Market Driven by Rising Prevalence of Diabetes

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), or glycated hemoglobin, refers to hemoglobin with glucose attached. HbA1c testing devices are used for blood tests that determine average blood glucose, or blood sugar levels.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2023 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.