Lab-on-a-chip system integrated with nanofiber mats used as a potential tool to study cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)

Abstract

An in vitro culture model mimicking the heart function can help in the search for effective treatments for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). For this reason, Lab-on-a-chip systems are used to mimic various heart features and to create a cellular model. In this paper, we present a newly designed microfluidic system integrated with poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) and polyurethane (PU) nanofibrous mats. Nanofibrous mats with aligned fibers, produced using a solution blow spinning (SBS) method, were used to create a parallel orientation of heart cells. Two types of cardiac cells were used in the research: rat cardiomyoblasts (H9C2) and human cardiomyocytes (HCM). The morphology, arrangement, and viability of the cells cultured on the nanofibrous mats in the designed microsystem were evaluated. The obtained results indicate that nanofibrous mats are a suitable surface for cardiac cell culture and they enhance the parallel orientation of the cells. The main aim of the research was to create a cellular model of hypoxic myocardial tissue (as a disease state) under flow conditions, useful for further studies under heart regeneration. Hypoxia was simulated using a biochemical method (cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, FCCP). The effectiveness of the hypoxic agent was assessed by quantifying adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules using a bioluminescence-based test. We proved that it is possible to simulate hypoxia of cardiac cells cultured on nanofibrous mats in the developed microfluidic system. In the future, the designed microsystem can become an useful tool for testing new drugs or developing new treatments for heart failure based on stem cells.