Multi-electrode monitoring of guided excitation in patterned cardiomyocytes

Guided excitation in patterned cardiomyocytes was analysed by extracellular recording of field potentials with a commercial device of multi-electrode array (MEA). In order to define fibronectin patterns on the MEA surface, microcontact printing was performed with a microscope-based alignment system. Cardiomyocytes were harvested from neonatal rats and then cultured on the patterned device. After 3 days, cell stripes were formed, allowing guided excitation along each of the cell stripes. Increasing the culture time from 3 to 5 days improved the beating repeatability without changing the quality of the electric conduction. More detailed analyses revealed that the excitation propagation along a cell stripe was sensitive to the cell coupling defects which could be modified by adding drugs in the culture medium during the early stage of the pattern formation. Our results suggest that extracellular recordings with patterned MEAs are reliable for quantitative analyses of guided excitation of cardiomyocytes.

Graphical abstractμCP was applied to pattern fibronectin on the surface of a multi-electrode array. Cell stripes of cardiomyocytes were then formed, allowing demonstration of a guided excitation along cell strips.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► We patterned a commercial MEA device to form micro-stripes of cardiomyocytes. ► We examined guided excitation along cell stripes by extracellular recording. ► We found a propagation of field potential along a cell stripe. ► The cell coupling effects could be increased by adding drugs in culture medium.