title: Characterization of electrical stimulation electrodes for cardiac tissue engineering.
abstract: Electrical stimulation has been shown to improve functional assembly of cardiomyocytes in vitro for cardiac tissue engineering. The goal of this study was to assess the conditions of electrical stimulation with respect to the electrode geometry, material properties and charge-transfer characteristics at the electrode-electrolyte interface. We compared various biocompatible materials, including nanoporous carbon, stainless steel, titanium and titanium nitride, for use in cardiac tissue engineering bioreactors. The faradaic and non-faradaic charge transfer mechanisms were assessed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), studying current injection characteristics, and examining surface properties of electrodes with scanning electron microscopy. Carbon electrodes were found to have the best current injection characteristics. However, these electrodes require careful handling because of their limited mechanical strength. The efficacy of various electrodes for use in 2-D and 3-D cardiac tissue engineering systems with neonatal rat cardiomyocytes is being determined by assessing cell viability, amplitude of contractions, excitation thresholds, maximum capture rate, and tissue morphology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, 353 Engineering Terrace, New York, NY 10027, USA. nmt2104@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tandon
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cannizzaro
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Figallo
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Voldman
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vunjak-Novakovic
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000502:physiology*; D008839:Microelectrodes; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods