Abstract 38: Engineered Anisotropic Scaffolds Promote the Function of Cocultured Cardiomyocytes Derived From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Since the heart is effectively an anisotropic organ in which the cardiomyocytes (CM) are locally aligned in series, it is important to engineer cardiac tissues that promote CM alignment in order to closely mimic the architecture of the native tissue, as well as better mimic the cellular composition of the heart. The objective of this study was to define the role of anisotropic extracellular matrix cues on the organization and survival of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CMs (hiPSC-CMs) by co-culturing hiPSC-CMs and primary endothelial cells (ECs) on parallel-aligned microfibrillar scaffolds. The hiPSC-CMs were generated from hiPSCs using small molecule Wnt pathway agonists and antagonists. Subsequently, the hiPSC-CMs were sequentially seeded on day 15 after EC attachment. We cultured monocultures and cocultures on electrospun three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds of polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) polymer blends with an average fiber diameter of 14 μm. Aligned scaffolds were fabricated by stretching the randomly oriented scaffolds by 300% of the original scaffold length. Randomly oriented fibrillar scaffolds had an average pore diameter of 17 μm when compared to the 36 μm pore diameter of aligned scaffolds. Our results indicate that alignment of co-cultured cells at a 5:1 hiPSC-CMs : EC ratio was promoted by anistropic 3D electrospun scaffolds when compared to similar random 3D electrospun scaffolds. Additionally, cocultured cells on aligned fibrillar scaffolds had a mean angle of orientation of 30.8°, relative to the direction of fibrils, which was similar to that of hiPSC-CM monocultures on aligned scaffolds (32.8°). In contrast, the degree of alignment of hiPSC-CMs on randomly oriented fibrillary scaffolds was 43.4°, which suggests a non-oriented population of cells. Aligned scaffolds also produced more synchronized cardiomyocyte contraction than random scaffold orientations, although both induced spontaneous contraction frequency of ~1Hz. This study highlights the importance of nanotopographical cues and intercellular interactions in mediating the morphology and contractility of hiPSC-CMs for treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction.