Effect of Electrical Stimulation on Spontaneously Beating Dynamics of Cardiac Tissues: An Analysis Using Digital Image Correlation
Lihua Lou, Alberto Seseña Rubfiaro, Jin He, Arvind Agarwal
Abstract
Abstract Electrical pacing/stimulations (EP) have been widely adopted to promote the maturation of hiPSC‐derived cardiomyocytes. However, there is a debate about their functions and effectiveness due to non‐optimized pacing conditions. Here, the effectiveness of EP (13 V cm −1 , 2 ms in width, and 5 Hz frequency) on cardiac tissue beating mechanics are analyzed using digital image correlation (DIC). The cardiac tissues with and without EP at tissue culture time from day 2 to 11 (D2–D11) are characterized and compared. The results indicate EP decreased cardiac beating motion for ≈2–15 times, promote synchronization, and improve ion handling. A positive correlation between cardiac beating mechanics and ion handling is observed. DIC method can optimize chemical, mechanical, and electrical stimulation, which could help create more mature cardiac tissues.