Highly reproducible tissue positioning with tapered pillar design in engineered heart tissue platforms

Conference paper (2023)

Authors

M. Dostanic Leiden University Medical Center, Microelectronics
Laura Windt Leiden University Medical Center
M. Wiendels Leiden University Medical Center
Berend J. van Meer Leiden University Medical Center
Christine Mummery Leiden University Medical Center, University of Twente
Pasqualina M Sarro Electronic Components, Technology and Materials - EEMCS
Massimo Mastrangeli Electronic Components, Technology and Materials - EEMCS
Department
Microelectronics
Copyright: © 2023 M. Dostanic, Laura Windt, Maury Wiendels, Berend J. van Meer, Christine L. Mummery, Pasqualina M Sarro, Massimo Mastrangeli
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/MEMS49605.2023.10052166
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Published Date

2023

Language

English

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Department

Microelectronics

Abstract

We present a novel design of elastic micropillars for tissue self-assembly in engineered heart tissue (EHT) platforms. The innovative tapered profile confines reproducibly the tissue position along the main micropillar axis, increasing the accuracy of tissue contraction force measurement. Polydimethylsiloxane-based pillars were designed and fabricated by wafer-level molding in an hourglass shape, with symmetric tapering producing a restriction for tissue movement in the middle of the pillars’ length. Confinement efficacy of the new geometry was validated by comparing the tissue performance in straight versus tapered (75° or 80° tapering angle) micropillars. While in all three cases compact tissues formed successfully, for both tapered designs the functionality assays evidenced yield increase from 15% to 100%, higher spatial tissue confinement, and correspondingly higher accuracy and smaller dispersion in measurements of tissue contraction force.

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- Embargo expired in 01-09-2023