Electromechanical scaffolds for cardiac tissue engineering

This project aims to develop a platform for the growth and maturation of cardiac microtissues to obtain realistic organotypic models in healthy and diseased states (cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia). To this end, a biomimetic microenvironment providing all the necessary stimuli (biochemical, electrical and mechanical) has been developed to enhance the maturation of cardiomyocytes obtained by differentiation of pluripotent human stem cells. In particular, electromechanical matrices based on conductive polymers have been manufactured and will be tested to obtain adult-type cardiomyocytes. These matrices are then integrated into a 3D-printed device for continuous monitoring of cardiac function (contractility and electrophysiology). This platform will enable the development of more realistic cardiac models to gain a better understanding of heart disease and test more effective treatments.

Researchers

Ali Maziz, Vincent Mansard, Dina Arvanitis, Christian Bergaud

Project

Européen project H2020 RIA LUMP-SUM “EMAPS-Cardio” (2021-2025) coordinated by LAAS and made up of a multidisciplinary consortium of academic laboratories (LAAS, CSEM, IMC) and industrial partners from France, Switzerland, Lithuania, Portugal, Czech Republic, Spain and Germany (OSPIN, BIOFABICS, INOCURE, EURICE, BIOTALENTUM, EURECAT).

https://emaps-cardio.eu

Publications

• Advancing Cardiomyocyte Maturation: Current Strategies and Promising Conductive Polymer‐Based Approaches, K Elkhoury et al., Advanced Healthcare Materials13 (13), 2303288, 2024
• HiPSC-derived cardiomyocyte cultivation and measurement of electrophysiological properties on gelatine/glucose/polypyrrole scaffold, R Vaiciuleviciute et al., Cardiovascular Research 120 (Supplement_1), cvae088. 042, 2024
• Multifactorial approaches to enhance maturation of human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, K Kistamás et al., Journal of Molecular Liquids, 122668, 2024