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Optimization of electrical stimulation parameters for cardiac tissue engineering
Author(s) -
Tandon Nina,
Marsano Anna,
Maidhof Robert,
Wan Leo,
Park Hyoungshin,
VunjakNovakovic Gordana
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.835
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-7005
pISSN - 1932-6254
DOI - 10.1002/term.377
Subject(s) - tissue engineering , biomedical engineering , stimulation , bioreactor , pulsatile flow , materials science , chemistry , medicine , organic chemistry
In vitro application of pulsatile electrical stimulation to neonatal rat cardiomyocytes cultured on polymer scaffolds has been shown to improve the functional assembly of cells into contractile engineered cardiac tissues. However, to date, the conditions of electrical stimulation have not been optimized. We have systematically varied the electrode material, amplitude and frequency of stimulation to determine the conditions that are optimal for cardiac tissue engineering. Carbon electrodes, exhibiting the highest charge‐injection capacity and producing cardiac tissues with the best structural and contractile properties, were thus used in tissue engineering studies. Engineered cardiac tissues stimulated at 3 V/cm amplitude and 3 Hz frequency had the highest tissue density, the highest concentrations of cardiac troponin‐I and connexin‐43 and the best‐developed contractile behaviour. These findings contribute to defining bioreactor design specifications and electrical stimulation regime for cardiac tissue engineering. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.