(Invited) Non-Invasive Plasmonic Based Real Time Characterization of Cardiac Drugs on Cardiomyocytes Functional Behavior

Abstract

Monitoring functionality of cardiac tissue is of utmost importance for understanding the health and maturity of its constructing cells. One major gap in current research for monitoring cardiac tissue’s function in terms of its contraction rate is lack of a comprehensive system that can measure such features without interfering directly with tissue. Fluorescent labeling and micro sensors integrated within cells are known to change a variety of tissue’s phenotype, which in turn results in inaccurate readings. Here we have exploited the potential of Surface Plasmon Resonance as a label free technique to monitor cardiac tissue contraction rate under normal conditions and in response to chemical stimulation. Employing a microfluidic module, facilitated a perfusion-based system with an optimal flow rate of 10 μlit/min, which provided a more realistic pharmacokinetic of 10 μM drug (ATP and Blebbistatin) administration. The effect of chemicals was detected with high spatiotemporal sensitivity on contracting cardiomyocytes. Our drug screening has identified the source of SPR periodic signal to be directly cell contraction rather than action potentials or calcium signaling. Per our results, SPR has high potential in applications in least interference real-time and label-free tissue characterizations and cellular properties analysis from a functional and structural point of view.