The PI will build a hybrid cell culture model, which couples cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts. The topology of the cell culture consists of alternate stripes of fibroblasts and cardiac cells. The hybrid cell culture is built by differential cell adhesion, which is controlled by adjusting the concentration of a triblock copolymer. The cell network is grown on a flexible microgroove, which, due to its flexibility, exerts mechanical stress on targeted cells. The PI shows preliminary results indicating that the cell network, when electrically stimulated, releases natriuretic peptides (NP) (one of the chemical release by stress). The elevation of NP can be eliminated with a calcium blocker, strongly supporting the fact that NP releases is induced by mechanical stress.
