In vitro perfusion of engineered heart tissue through endothelialized channels

Tissue Eng Part A. 2014 Feb;20(3-4):854-63. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2013.0214. Epub 2013 Dec 11.

Abstract

In engineered heart tissues (EHT), oxygen and nutrient supply via mere diffusion is a likely factor limiting the thickness of cardiac muscle strands. Here, we report on a novel method to in vitro perfuse EHT through tubular channels. Adapting our previously published protocols, we expanded a miniaturized fibrin-based EHT-format to a larger six-well format with six flexible silicone posts holding each EHT (15×25×3 mm³). Thin dry alginate fibers (17×0.04×0.04 mm) were embedded into the cell-fibrin-thrombin mix and, after fibrin polymerization, dissolved by incubation in alginate lyase or sodium citrate. Oxygen concentrations were measured with a microsensor in 14-day-old EHTs (37°C, 21% oxygen) and ranged between 9% at the edges and 2% in the center of the tissue. Perfusion rapidly increased it to 10%-12% in the immediate vicinity of the microchannel. Continuous perfusion (20 μL/h, for 3 weeks) of the tubular lumina (100-500 μm) via hollow posts of the silicone rack increased mean dystrophin-positive cardiomyocyte density (36%±6% vs. 10%±3% of total cell number) and cross sectional area (73±2 vs. 48±1 μm²) in the central part of the tissue compared to nonperfused EHTs. The channels were populated by endothelial cells present in the reconstitution cell mix. In conclusion, we developed a novel approach to generate small tubular structures suitable for perfusion of spontaneously contracting and force-generating EHTs and showed that prolonged perfusion improved cardiac tissue structure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alginates / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Citrates / pharmacology
  • Dystrophin / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiology*
  • Glucuronic Acid / pharmacology
  • Heart / drug effects*
  • Hexuronic Acids / pharmacology
  • Oxygen / pharmacology
  • Perfusion / methods*
  • Rats
  • Sodium Citrate
  • Tissue Engineering*

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Citrates
  • Dystrophin
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Sodium Citrate
  • Glucuronic Acid
  • Oxygen