Generation of Self-assembling Heart Organoids

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Self-assembled heart organoids are a major advancement in the field of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Ace Therapeutics has extensive experience in the development of heart organoids, and we are able to provide customized self-assembled heart organoids for cardiovascular disease research.

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Applications of Self-assembling Heart Organoids

Traditional 2D cell models and animal models have their own limitations and cannot be fully applied to the study of cardiovascular disease pathogenesis and therapy. Heart organoids are generated from cells and can simulate the structure and function of hearts to a certain extent. They can more accurately retain biological properties and functions of cells in vivo, opening up new directions and ideas for cardiovascular disease research. Self-assembled heart organs can help advance research in the field of cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial ischemic injury, cardiac contractile dysfunction and abnormal electrophysiological activity.

Fig. 1 Construction methods and applications of human cardiac organoids. (Zhao D, et al., 2021)

Ace Therapeutics is able to develop customized self-assembled heart organoids using induced by pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to meet clients' needs in cardiovascular disease research.

Induction of Stem Cell Differentiation

We typically select induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as source cells for self-assembled heart organoid development. Stem cells are exposed to growth factors and signaling molecules that mimic the environment of embryonic heart development and induced to differentiate into cardiomyocytes.

Tissue Assembly Strategies for Self-assembled Heart Organoids

• Scaffold-based Approaches
  We can use hydrogels (such as collagen) or biodegradable materials (such as polylactic acid) as scaffoldings to provide structural support. Based on the specific structural design, the differentiated cardiomyocyte tissues are guided to self-assemble to mimic the extracellular matrix of cardiac tissues.
• Bioprinting-based Approaches
  Based on 3D bioprinting technology, we can generate complex cardiac tissue structures by precisely deposit cells in a 3D pattern.

Maturation of Self-assembled Heart Organoids

We can incorporate other cardiac cell types, such as endothelial cells and fibroblasts, into the 3D cardiac structure for co-culture to better mimic the cellular diversity of native cardiac tissue. In addition, we can stimulate cardiac tissues to support the self-assembly and functionalization of heart organoids in the following ways.

• Mechanical Stimulation
  We can mechanically stretch cardiac tissue periodically to promote the alignment and maturation of cardiomyocytes and enhance their contractile properties.
• Electrical Stimulation
  We can improve the electrophysiological properties of cardiac microtissues through electrical stimulation to ensure synchronized contraction and better mimic native cardiac tissues.
• Biochemical Stimulation
  We can add biochemical factors (such as TGF-β and IGF) to the culture medium to support the maturation and function of cardiac tissues.

Characterization and Evaluation of Self-Assembled Heart Organoids

• Structural Analysis of Heart Organoids
  We can use histological staining, immunofluorescence, and confocal microscopy to assess the structural integrity and organization of heart organoids.
• Contractility Analysis of Heart Organoids
  We can assess the contractile function of the heart organoids by measuring parameters such as contraction amplitude and frequency using video microscopy, force transducers or optical mapping.
• Electrophysiological Evaluation of Heart Organoids
  We can perform electrophysiological evaluations using techniques such as patch clamp, multi-electrode array (MEA), or calcium imaging to assess action potential propagation and electrical coupling of heart organoids.
• Molecular and Genetic Analysis of Heart Organoids
  We can conduct gene and protein expression profiling studies of heart organoids to assess the expression of cardiac-specific genes and biomarkers.

Ace Therapeutics is a CRO company dedicated to providing customized heart organoid development services for cardiovascular disease research. If you are interested in our services, please don't hesitate to contact us.

1. Zhao, D.; et al. Cardiac organoid - a promising perspective of preclinical model. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2021, 12(1):272.