Effects Of Electrical Stimulation and Insulin-like Growth Factor On Heart Cells Cultured On A Microfabricated Degradable Elastomer

摘要

A MEMS-fabricated elastomer with microscale structural features and anisotropic mechanical properties provided an in vitro platform to engineer contractile heart muscle containing cardiac specific molecular markers and sarcomeres. A systematic study demonstrated significant individual and interactive effects of two in vitro culture parameters: IGF and ES. The novel finding is that combined use of IGF and ES interactively affected the behavior of cardiomyocytes cultured at the surfaces and within the pores of the degradable scaffold. The resulting constructs may be applicable to medical applications wherein cell delivery and mechanical support are needed for the repair of damaged heart muscle.