An electronic device to closely monitor beating heart cells without affecting their behavior has been created by engineers.
A collaboration between the University of Tokyo, Tokyo Women's Medical University and RIKEN in Japan produced a functional sample of heart cells with a soft nanomesh sensor in direct contact with the tissue. This device could aid study of other cells, organs and medicines. It also paves the way for future embedded medical devices.
Here's How Heart Cells Develop
Cardiomyocytes arise from stem cell-like precursor cells that have proliferative potential and are the primary source of cardiomyocytes during development. Fluorescent colored proteins were used to understand the formation of these cells.
Advertisement
‘The nanomesh sensor frees researchers to study cardiomyocytes and other cell cultures in a way more faithful to how they are in nature. The key is to use the sensor in conjunction with a flexible substrate, or base, for the cells to grow on.’
Tweet it Now
Inside each of us beats a life-sustaining heart. Unfortunately, the organ is not always perfect and sometimes goes wrong. One way or another research on the heart is fundamentally important to us all. So when Sunghoon Lee, a researcher in Professor Takao Someya's group at the University of Tokyo, came up with the idea for an ultrasoft electronic sensor that could monitor functioning cells, his team jumped at the chance to use this sensor to study heart cells, or cardiomyocytes, as they beat.
"When researchers study cardiomyocytes in action they culture them on hard petri dishes and attach rigid sensor probes. These impede the cells' natural tendency to move as the sample beats, so observations do not reflect reality well," said Lee.
![Heart Rate (Pulse Rate) During Physical Exertion]( "Heart Rate (Pulse Rate) During Physical Exertion")
Heart rate (pulse rate) during physical exertion calculator calculates maximum heart rate and safe pulse rate zone for exercise. Know how low and high pulse rate affect your health.
For this research, collaborators from Tokyo Women's Medical University supplied a healthy culture of cardiomyocytes derived from human stem cells. The base for the culture was a very soft material called fibrin gel. Lee placed the nanomesh sensor on top of the cell culture in a complex process, which involved removing and adding liquid medium at the proper times. This was important to correctly orient the nanomesh sensor.
"The fine mesh sensor is difficult to place perfectly. This reflects the delicate touch necessary to fabricate it in the first place," continued Lee. "The polyurethane strands which underlie the entire mesh sensor are 10 times thinner than a human hair. It took a lot of practice and pushed my patience to its limit, but eventually I made some working prototypes."
To make the sensors, first a process called electro-spinning extrudes ultrafine polyurethane strands into a flat sheet, similar to how some common 3D printers work. This spiderweb like sheet is then coated in parylene, a type of plastic, to strengthen it. The parylene on certain sections of the mesh is removed by a dry etching process with a stencil. Gold is then applied to these areas to make the sensor probes and communication wires. Additional parylene isolates the probes so their signals do not interfere with one another.
With three probes, the sensor reads voltage present at three locations. The readout appears familiar to anyone who's watched a hospital drama as it's essentially a cardiogram. Thanks to the multiple probes, researchers can see propagation of signals, which result from and trigger the cells to beat. These signals are known as an action or field potential and are extremely important when assessing the effect of drugs on the heart.
"Drug samples need to get to the cell sample and a solid sensor would either poorly distribute the drug or prevent it reaching the sample altogether. So the porous nature of the nanomesh sensor was intentional and a driving force behind the whole idea," said Lee. "Whether it's for drug research, heart monitors or to reduce animal testing, I can't wait to see this device produced and used in the field. I still get a powerful feeling when I see the close-up images of those golden threads."
Source: Eurekalert
Heart Rate (Pulse Rate) During Physical Exertion
Heart rate (pulse rate) during physical exertion calculator calculates maximum heart rate and safe pulse rate zone for exercise. Know how low and high pulse rate affect your health.
Advertisement
For this research, collaborators from Tokyo Women's Medical University supplied a healthy culture of cardiomyocytes derived from human stem cells. The base for the culture was a very soft material called fibrin gel. Lee placed the nanomesh sensor on top of the cell culture in a complex process, which involved removing and adding liquid medium at the proper times. This was important to correctly orient the nanomesh sensor.
"The fine mesh sensor is difficult to place perfectly. This reflects the delicate touch necessary to fabricate it in the first place," continued Lee. "The polyurethane strands which underlie the entire mesh sensor are 10 times thinner than a human hair. It took a lot of practice and pushed my patience to its limit, but eventually I made some working prototypes."
To make the sensors, first a process called electro-spinning extrudes ultrafine polyurethane strands into a flat sheet, similar to how some common 3D printers work. This spiderweb like sheet is then coated in parylene, a type of plastic, to strengthen it. The parylene on certain sections of the mesh is removed by a dry etching process with a stencil. Gold is then applied to these areas to make the sensor probes and communication wires. Additional parylene isolates the probes so their signals do not interfere with one another.
With three probes, the sensor reads voltage present at three locations. The readout appears familiar to anyone who's watched a hospital drama as it's essentially a cardiogram. Thanks to the multiple probes, researchers can see propagation of signals, which result from and trigger the cells to beat. These signals are known as an action or field potential and are extremely important when assessing the effect of drugs on the heart.
"Drug samples need to get to the cell sample and a solid sensor would either poorly distribute the drug or prevent it reaching the sample altogether. So the porous nature of the nanomesh sensor was intentional and a driving force behind the whole idea," said Lee. "Whether it's for drug research, heart monitors or to reduce animal testing, I can't wait to see this device produced and used in the field. I still get a powerful feeling when I see the close-up images of those golden threads."
Source: Eurekalert
Test Your Knowledge on Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease is a direct consequence of today's unhealthy lifestyle and food habits, which include a high-fat diet, inadequate exercise and loads of stress. Coronary heart disease is emerging as an epidemic of the modern world, affecting younger individuals and extending to poorer countries as well. Here is a quiz that will test your knowledge on basic terminology used in coronary heart
Advertisement
3D Substrates Recreate An Environment Where Heart Cells Grow Inside the Human Body
Growing cardiomyocytes in 3D heart molds allow them to mature more quickly and with improved functionality.
Advertisement
Recommended Reading
Latest Medical Gadgets
Is it the flu or COVID-19? A new sensor can tell you whether you are positive for flu or COVID-19 in 10 seconds.
A novel type of neural implant was found to restore limb function to amputees. The implant sheds insights into brain-machine interfaces.
The wearable sensor for muscle atrophy, the muscle condition can be used by an astronaut on a long mission to keep track of his health.
Newly developed custom 3D-printed heart replicas look and pump just like real human heart.
What is the market size for surgical robotics? The market size is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.0% from 2023 to 2030.
