Microfabricated Tools for Functional Assessment of Developing Cardiomyocytes

Cardiomyocytes cultured from stem cells offer potential for use in regenerative tissue grafts, however the difficulty in manipulating and culturing these cells necessitates novel tools for both stimulating their development and assessing their mechanical and electrical function. Herein I introduce the tools for performing biomechanical investigations of cells and describe the challenges in working with cardiomyocytes and the development of two microfabricated sensors for quantifying the electricomechanical properties of immature cardiomyocytes throughout their development.

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Year	Entry
2005	Discher DE, Janmey P, Wang Y-l. Tissue cells feel and respond to the stiffness of their substrate. Science. November 18, 2005;310(5751):1139-1143.
2000	Brown TD. Techniques for mechanical stimulation of cells in vitro: a review. J Biomech. January 2000;33(1):3-14.
1969	Frisén M, Mägi M, Sonnerup L, Viidik A. Rheological analysis of soft collagenous tissue, II: experimental evaluations and verifications. J Biomech. March 1969;2(1):21-28.
2000	Guilak F, Tedrow JR, Burgkart R. Viscoelastic properties of the cell nucleus. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. March 24, 2000;269(3):781-786.
2000	Hochmuth RM. Micropipette aspiration of living cells. J Biomech. January 2000;33(1):15-22.
1973	Kempson GE, Muir H, Pollard C, Tuke M. The tensile properties of the cartilage of human femoral condyles related to the content of collagen and glycosaminoglycans. Biochim Biophys Acta. February 28, 1973;297(2):456-472.
2006	Engler AJ, Sen S, Sweeney HL, Discher DE. Matrix elasticity directs stem cell lineage specification. Cell. August 25, 2006;126(4):P677-P689.
2006	Ebenstein DM, Pruitt LA. Nanoindentation of biological materials. Nano Today. August 2006;1(3):26-33.

Year

Entry

2005

Discher DE, Janmey P, Wang Y-l. Tissue cells feel and respond to the stiffness of their substrate. Science. November 18, 2005;310(5751):1139-1143.

2000

Brown TD. Techniques for mechanical stimulation of cells in vitro: a review. J Biomech. January 2000;33(1):3-14.

1969

Frisén M, Mägi M, Sonnerup L, Viidik A. Rheological analysis of soft collagenous tissue, II: experimental evaluations and verifications. J Biomech. March 1969;2(1):21-28.

2000

Guilak F, Tedrow JR, Burgkart R. Viscoelastic properties of the cell nucleus. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. March 24, 2000;269(3):781-786.

2000

Hochmuth RM. Micropipette aspiration of living cells. J Biomech. January 2000;33(1):15-22.

1973

Kempson GE, Muir H, Pollard C, Tuke M. The tensile properties of the cartilage of human femoral condyles related to the content of collagen and glycosaminoglycans. Biochim Biophys Acta. February 28, 1973;297(2):456-472.

2006

Engler AJ, Sen S, Sweeney HL, Discher DE. Matrix elasticity directs stem cell lineage specification. Cell. August 25, 2006;126(4):P677-P689.

2006

Ebenstein DM, Pruitt LA. Nanoindentation of biological materials. Nano Today. August 2006;1(3):26-33.