Anisotropic stretch‐induced hypertrophy in neonatal ventricular myocytes micropatterned on deformable elastomers

• DOI: 10.1002/bit.10506
• Publication Date: 2003-01-06T21:45:23Z
• Authors: Sindhu M. Gopalan; Chris Flaim; Sangeeta N. Bhatia; Masahiko Hoshijima; Ralph Knoell; Kenneth R. Chien; Jeffrey H. Omens; Andrew D. McCulloch
• Keywords: C2C12; Phalloidin; Myofibril

Abstract Because cell shape and alignment, cell–matrix adhesion, cell–cell contact can all affect growth, because mechanical strains in vivo are multiaxial anisotropic, we developed an vitro system for engineering aligned, rod‐shaped, neonatal cardiac myocyte cultures. Photolithographic microfluidic techniques were used to micropattern extracellular matrices parallel lines on deformable silicone elastomers. Confluent, elongated, aligned myocytes produced by varying the line width collagen density. An elliptical stretcher applied 2:1 anisotropic strain statically elastic substrate, with axis of greatest stretch (10%) either or transverse myofibrils. After 24 h, principal did not significantly alter myofibril accumulation expression atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), connexin‐43 (Cx‐43), N ‐cadherin (by indirect immunofluorescent antibody labeling immunoblotting) compared unstretched controls. In contrast, 10% resulted continuous staining actin filaments (rhodamine phalloidin); increased ANF, Cx‐43, ‐cadherin; upregulation protein signal intensity western blotting. By using microfabrication microfluidics control alignment found greater effects than longitudinal regulating sarcomere organization, hypertrophy, cell‐to‐cell junctions. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 81: 578–587, 2003.