title: Fabrication and characterization of optogenetic, multi-strip cardiac muscles.
abstract: Cardiac tissue engineering aims to recreate functional tissue constructs similar to the structure and function of the native myocardium. To date, in vitro tissue constructs lack the architectural complexity of a vascular network and the precise motor unit control of muscle fibers. Here, we present a method to construct engineered multi-strip cardiac muscle that simulates the bundle-like architecture of the native myocardium. Densely packed primary myocytes and cardiac fibroblasts were co-cultured with optogenetic, non-excitable cells. The resulting 3D syncytium triggered contraction upon localized blue light illumination to selectively activate and pace the multi-strip cardiac muscles, similar to the activity of pacemaker cells. Acting on a single load, we demonstrated graded force production through light-modulated multi-strip recruitment. These results demonstrate an in vitro platform of optogenetic, multi-strip cardiac muscles that can be used in a wide variety of applications, such as drug discovery, tissue engineering, and bio-hybrid robotic systems.
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA 02139. chanv@mit.edu.
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Chan
authors: Devin M
authors: DM
authors: Neal
authors: Sebastien G M
authors: SG
authors: Uzel
authors: Hyeonyu
authors: H
authors: Kim
authors: Rashid
authors: R
authors: Bashir
authors: H Harry
authors: HH
authors: Asada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*