A Bioreactor to Apply Multimodal Physical Stimuli to Cultured Cells
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Cells residing in the cardiac niche are constantly experiencing physical stimuli, including electrical pulses and cyclic mechanical stretch. These physical signals are known to influence a variety of cell functions, including the secretion of growth factors and extracellular matrix proteins by cardiac fibroblasts, calcium handling and contractility in cardiomyocytes, or stretch-activated ion channels in muscle and non-muscle cells of the cardiovascular system. Recent progress in cardiac tissue engineering suggests that controlled physical stimulation can lead to functional improvements in multicellular cardiac tissue constructs. To study these effects, aspects of the physical environment of the myocardium have to be mimicked in vitro. Applying continuous live imaging, this protocol demonstrates how a specifically designed bioreactor system allows controlled exposure of cultured cells to cyclic stretch, rhythmic electrical stimulation, and controlled fluid perfusion, at user-defined temperatures.
Date Issued
2016-04-01
Date Acceptance
2016-01-01
Citation
Methods in Molecular Biology, 2016, 1502, pp.21-33
ISSN
1940-6029
Publisher
Springer
Start Page
21
End Page
33
Journal / Book Title
Methods in Molecular Biology
Volume
1502
Copyright Statement
The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/7651_2016_336
Subjects
Bioreactor
Cell mechanics
Cyclic stretch
Electrical stimulation
Electrophysiology
Excitable cells
Myocardium
Perfusion
Developmental Biology
0601 Biochemistry And Cell Biology
Publication Status
Published