FRESH 3D bioprinting a contractile heart tube using human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes
Jacqueline M. Bliley, Joshua W. Tashman, Maria Stang, Brian Coffin, Daniel J. Shiwarski, Andrew Lee, Thomas J. Hinton, Adam W. Feinberg
Abstract
Abstract Here we report the 3D bioprinting of a simplified model of the heart, similar to that observed in embryonic development, where the heart is a linear tube that pumps blood and nutrients to the growing embryo. To this end, we engineered a bioinspired model of the human heart tube using freeform reversible of embedding of suspended hydrogels 3D bioprinting. The 3D bioprinted heart tubes were cellularized using human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts and formed patent, perfusable constructs. Synchronous contractions were achieved ∼3–4 days after fabrication and were maintained for up to a month. Immunofluorescent staining confirmed large, interconnected networks of sarcomeric alpha actinin-positive cardiomyocytes. Electrophysiology was assessed using calcium imaging and demonstrated anisotropic calcium wave propagation along the heart tube with a conduction velocity of ∼5 cm s −1 . Contractility and function was demonstrated by tracking the movement of fluorescent beads within the lumen to estimate fluid displacement and bead velocity. These results establish the feasibility of creating a 3D bioprinted human heart tube and serve as an initial step towards engineering more complex heart muscle structures.