Development of a human heart-on-a-chip model using induced pluripotent stem cells, fibroblasts and endothelial cells.

A recent preprint abstract discusses the development of a heart-on-a-chip model using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), fibroblasts, and vascular endothelial cells. The researchers aimed to faithfully replicate cardiac function by incorporating these cell types into the model. They found that the inclusion of vascular endothelial cells cultured on microfluidic channels resulted in responses similar to in vivo hearts, including alignment parallel to blood flow and stronger junction formation. The triculture condition of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, and vascular endothelial cells also exhibited increased expression of a ventricular cardiomyocyte marker and enhanced contractility compared to the biculture condition. However, it is important to note that this research has not yet undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]