Astrocytes facilitate gabazine-evoked electrophysiological hyperactivity and distinct biochemical responses in mature neuronal cultures.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult brain that binds to GABA receptors and hyperpolarizes the postsynaptic neuron. Gabazine acts as a competitive antagonist to type A GABA receptors (GABAAR), thereby causing diminished neuronal hyperpolarization and GABAAR-mediated inhibition. However, the biochemical effects and the potential regulatory role of astrocytes in this process remain poorly understood. To address this, we investigated the neuronal responses of gabazine in rat cortical cultures containing varying ratios of neurons and astrocytes. Electrophysiological characterization was performed utilizing microelectrode arrays (MEAs) with topologically controlled microcircuit cultures that enabled control of neuronal network growth. Biochemical analysis of the cultures was performed using traditional dissociated cultures on coverslips. Our study indicates that, upon gabazine stimulation, astrocyte-rich neuronal cultures exhibit elevated electrophysiological activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB; receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor), along with distinct cytokine secretion profiles. Notably, neurons lacking proper astrocytic support were found to experience synapse loss and decreased mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. Furthermore, astrocytes contributed to neuronal viability, morphology, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion, and overall neuronal network functionality, highlighting the multifunctional role of astrocytes.

Objective Supervised Machine Learning-Based Classification and Inference of Biological Neuronal Networks.

The classification of biological neuron types and networks poses challenges to the full understanding of the human brain's organisation and functioning. In this paper, we develop a novel objective classification model of biological neuronal morphology and electrical types and their networks, based on the attributes of neuronal communication using supervised machine learning solutions. This presents advantages compared to the existing approaches in neuroinformatics since the data related to mutual information or delay between neurons obtained from spike trains are more abundant than conventional morphological data. We constructed two open-access computational platforms of various neuronal circuits from the Blue Brain Project realistic models, named Neurpy and Neurgen. Then, we investigated how we could perform network tomography with cortical neuronal circuits for the morphological, topological and electrical classification of neurons. We extracted the simulated data of 10,000 network topology combinations with five layers, 25 morphological type (m-type) cells, and 14 electrical type (e-type) cells. We applied the data to several different classifiers (including Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Trees, Random Forest, and Artificial Neural Networks). We achieved accuracies of up to 70%, and the inference of biological network structures using network tomography reached up to 65% of accuracy. Objective classification of biological networks can be achieved with cascaded machine learning methods using neuron communication data. SVM methods seem to perform better amongst used techniques. Our research not only contributes to existing classification efforts but sets the road-map for future usage of brain-machine interfaces towards an in vivo objective classification of neurons as a sensing mechanism of the brain's structure.

Astrocytes Exhibit a Protective Role in Neuronal Firing Patterns under Chemically Induced Seizures in Neuron-Astrocyte Co-Cultures.

Astrocytes and neurons respond to each other by releasing transmitters, such as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate, that modulate the synaptic transmission and electrochemical behavior of both cell types. Astrocytes also maintain neuronal homeostasis by clearing neurotransmitters from the extracellular space. These astrocytic actions are altered in diseases involving malfunction of neurons, e.g., in epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Convulsant drugs such as 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and gabazine are commonly used to study epilepsy in vitro. In this study, we aim to assess the modulatory roles of astrocytes during epileptic-like conditions and in compensating drug-elicited hyperactivity. We plated rat cortical neurons and astrocytes with different ratios on microelectrode arrays, induced seizures with 4-AP and gabazine, and recorded the evoked neuronal activity. Our results indicated that astrocytes effectively counteracted the effect of 4-AP during stimulation. Gabazine, instead, induced neuronal hyperactivity and synchronicity in all cultures. Furthermore, our results showed that the response time to the drugs increased with an increasing number of astrocytes in the co-cultures. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first that shows the critical modulatory role of astrocytes in 4-AP and gabazine-induced discharges and highlights the importance of considering different proportions of cells in the cultures.

All-Optical Electrophysiology Refines Populations of In Silico Human iPSC-CMs for Drug Evaluation.

High-throughput in vitro drug assays have been impacted by recent advances in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte (hiPSC-CM) technology and by contact-free all-optical systems simultaneously measuring action potentials (APs) and Ca2+ transients (CaTrs). Parallel computational advances have shown that in silico simulations can predict drug effects with high accuracy. We combine these in vitro and in silico technologies and demonstrate the utility of high-throughput experimental data to refine in silico hiPSC-CM populations and to predict and explain drug action mechanisms. Optically obtained hiPSC-CM APs and CaTrs were used from spontaneous activity and under optical pacing in control and drug conditions at multiple doses. An updated version of the Paci2018 model was developed to refine the description of hiPSC-CM spontaneous electrical activity; a population of in silico hiPSC-CMs was constructed and calibrated using simultaneously recorded APs and CaTrs. We tested in silico five drugs (astemizole, dofetilide, ibutilide, bepridil, and diltiazem) and compared the outcomes to in vitro optical recordings. Our simulations showed that physiologically accurate population of models can be obtained by integrating AP and CaTr control records. Thus, constructed population of models correctly predicted the drug effects and occurrence of adverse episodes, even though the population was optimized only based on control data and in vitro drug testing data were not deployed during its calibration. Furthermore, the in silico investigation yielded mechanistic insights; e.g., through simulations, bepridil's more proarrhythmic action in adult cardiomyocytes compared to hiPSC-CMs could be traced to the different expression of ion currents in the two. Therefore, our work 1) supports the utility of all-optical electrophysiology in providing high-content data to refine experimentally calibrated populations of in silico hiPSC-CMs, 2) offers insights into certain limitations when translating results obtained in hiPSC-CMs to humans, and 3) shows the strength of combining high-throughput in vitro and population in silico approaches.

Do bone geometric properties of the proximal femoral diaphysis reflect loading history, muscle properties, or body dimensions?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate activity-induced effects from bone geometric properties of the proximal femur in athletic vs nonathletic healthy females by statistically controlling for variation in body size, lower limb isometric, and dynamic muscle strength, and cross-sectional area of Musculus gluteus maximus. METHODS: The material consists of hip and proximal thigh magnetic resonance images of Finnish female athletes (N = 91) engaged in either high jump, triple jump, soccer, squash, powerlifting, endurance running or swimming, and a group of physically active nonathletic women (N = 20). Cross-sectional bone geometric properties were calculated for the lesser trochanter, sub-trochanter, and mid-shaft of the femur regions. Bone geometric properties were analyzed using a general linear model that included body size, muscle size, and muscle strength as covariates. RESULTS: Body size and isometric muscle strength were positively associated with bone geometric properties at all three cross-sectional levels of the femur, while muscle size was positively associated with bone properties only at the femur mid-shaft. When athletes were compared to nonathletic females, triple jump, soccer, and squash resulted in greater values in all studied cross-sections; high jump and endurance running resulted in greater values at the femoral mid-shaft cross-section; and swimming resulted in lower values at sub-trochanter and femur mid-shaft cross-sections. CONCLUSIONS: Activity effects from ground impact loading were associated with higher bone geometric values, especially at the femur mid-shaft, but also at lesser and sub-trochanter cross-sections. Bone geometric properties along the femur can be used to assess the mechanical stimuli experienced, where ground impact loading seems to be more important than muscle loading.

Wound healing of human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells is affected by maturation stage.

BACKGROUND: Wound healing of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a complex process that may take place in common age-related macular degeneration eye disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether wounding and wound healing has an effect on Ca2+ dynamics in human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-RPEs cultured different periods of time. METHODS: The 9-day-cultured or 28-day-cultured hESC-RPEs from two different cell lines were wounded and the dynamics of spontaneous and mechanically induced intracellular Ca2+ activity was measured with live-cell Ca2+ imaging either immediately or 7 days after wounding. The healing time and speed were analyzed with time-lapse bright field microscopy. The Ca2+ activity and healing speed were analysed with image analysis. In addition the extracellular matrix deposition was assessed with confocal microscopy. RESULTS: The Ca2+ dynamics in hESC-RPE monolayers differed depending on the culture time: 9-day-cultured cells had higher number of cells with spontaneous Ca2+ activity close to freshly wounded edge compared to control areas, whereas in 28-day-cultured cells there was no difference in wounded and control areas. The 28-day-cultured, wounded and 7-day-healed hESC-RPEs produced wide-spreading intercellular Ca2+ waves upon mechanical stimulation, while in controls propagation was restricted. Most importantly, both wave spreading and spontaneous Ca2+ activity of cells within the healed area, as well as the cell morphology of 28-day-cultured, wounded and thereafter 7-day-healed areas resembled the 9-day-cultured hESC-RPEs. CONCLUSIONS: This acquired knowledge about Ca2+ dynamics of wounded hESC-RPE monolayers is important for understanding the dynamics of RPE wound healing, and could offer a reliable functionality test for RPE cells. The data presented in here suggests that assessment of Ca2+ dynamics analysed with image analysis could be used as a reliable non-invasive functionality test for RPE cells.

Novel osteoconductive ß-tricalcium phosphate/poly(L-lactide-co-e-caprolactone) scaffold for bone regeneration: a study in a rabbit calvarial defect.

The advantages of synthetic bone graft substitutes over autogenous bone grafts include abundant graft volume, lack of complications related to the graft harvesting, and shorter operation and recovery times for the patient. We studied a new synthetic supercritical CO2 -processed porous composite scaffold of ß-tricalcium phosphate and poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone) copolymer as a bone graft substitute in a rabbit calvarial defect. Bilateral 12 mm diameter critical size calvarial defects were successfully created in 18 rabbits. The right defect was filled with a scaffold moistened with bone marrow aspirate, and the other was an empty control. The material was assessed for applicability during surgery. The follow-up times were 4, 12, and 24 weeks. Radiographic and micro-CT studies and histopathological analysis were used to evaluate new bone formation, tissue ingrowth, and biocompatibility. The scaffold was easy to shape and handle during the surgery, and the bone-scaffold contact was tight when visually evaluated after the implantation. The material showed good biocompatibility and its porosity enabled rapid invasion of vasculature and full thickness mesenchymal tissue ingrowth already at four weeks. By 24 weeks, full thickness bone ingrowth within the scaffold and along the dura was generally seen. In contrast, the empty defect had only a thin layer of new bone at 24 weeks. The radiodensity of the material was similar to the density of the intact bone. In conclusion, the new porous scaffold material, composed of microgranular ß-TCP bound into the polymer matrix, proved to be a promising osteoconductive bone graft substitute with excellent handling properties.

Large-Scale Simulation of the Phenotypical Variability Induced by Loss-of-Function Long QT Mutations in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Cardiomyocytes.

Loss-of-function long QT (LQT) mutations inducing LQT1 and LQT2 syndromes have been successfully translated to human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) used as disease-specific models. However, their in vitro investigation mainly relies on experiments using small numbers of cells. This is especially critical when working with cells as heterogeneous as hiPSC-CMs. We aim (i) to investigate in silico the ionic mechanisms underlying LQT1 and LQT2 hiPSC-CM phenotypic variability, and (ii) to enable massive in silico drug tests on mutant hiPSC-CMs. We combined (i) data of control and mutant slow and rapid delayed rectifying K⁺ currents, IKr and IKs respectively, (ii) a recent in silico hiPSC-CM model, and (iii) the population of models paradigm to generate control and mutant populations for LQT1 and LQT2 cardiomyocytes. Our four populations contain from 1008 to 3584 models. In line with the experimental in vitro data, mutant in silico hiPSC-CMs showed prolonged action potential (AP) duration (LQT1: +14%, LQT2: +39%) and large electrophysiological variability. Finally, the mutant populations were split into normal-like hiPSC-CMs (with action potential duration similar to control) and at risk hiPSC-CMs (with clearly prolonged action potential duration). At risk mutant hiPSC-CMs carried higher expression of L-type Ca2+, lower expression of IKr and increased sensitivity to quinidine as compared to mutant normal-like hiPSC-CMs, resulting in AP abnormalities. In conclusion, we were able to reproduce the two most common LQT syndromes with large-scale simulations, which enable investigating biophysical mechanisms difficult to assess in vitro, e.g., how variations of ion current expressions in a physiological range can impact on AP properties of mutant hiPSC-CMs.

Methods for in vitro functional analysis of iPSC derived cardiomyocytes - Special focus on analyzing the mechanical beating behavior.

A rapidly increasing number of papers describing novel iPSC models for cardiac diseases are being published. To be able to understand the disease mechanisms in more detail, we should also take the full advantage of the various methods for analyzing these cell models. The traditionally and commonly used electrophysiological analysis methods have been recently accompanied by novel approaches for analyzing the mechanical beatingbehavior of the cardiomyocytes. In this review, we provide first a concise overview on the methodology for cardiomyocyte functional analysis and then concentrate on the video microscopy, which provides a promise for a new faster yet reliable method for cardiomyocyte functional analysis. We also show how analysis conditions may affect the results. Development of the methodology not only serves the basic research on the disease models, but could also provide the much needed efficient early phase screening method for cardiac safety toxicology. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Cardiomyocyte Biology: Integration of Developmental and Environmental Cues in the Heart edited by Marcus Schaub and Hughes Abriel.

Lead field theory provides a powerful tool for designing microelectrode array impedance measurements for biological cell detection and observation.

BACKGROUND: Our aim is to introduce a method to enhance the design process of microelectrode array (MEA) based electric bioimpedance measurement systems for improved detection and viability assessment of living cells and tissues. We propose the application of electromagnetic lead field theory and reciprocity for MEA design and measurement result interpretation. Further, we simulated impedance spectroscopy (IS) with two- and four-electrode setups and a biological cell to illustrate the tool in the assessment of the capabilities of given MEA electrode constellations for detecting cells on or in the vicinity of the microelectrodes. RESULTS: The results show the power of the lead field theory in electromagnetic simulations of cell-microelectrode systems depicting the fundamental differences of two- and four-electrode IS measurement configurations to detect cells. Accordingly, the use in MEA system design is demonstrated by assessing the differences between the two- and four-electrode IS configurations. Further, our results show how cells affect the lead fields in these MEA system, and how we can utilize the differences of the two- and four-electrode setups in cell detection. The COMSOL simulator model is provided freely in public domain as open source. CONCLUSIONS: Lead field theory can be successfully applied in MEA design for the IS based assessment of biological cells providing the necessary visualization and insight for MEA design. The proposed method is expected to enhance the design and usability of automated cell and tissue manipulation systems required for bioreactors, which are intended for the automated production of cell and tissue grafts for medical purposes. MEA systems are also intended for toxicology to assess the effects of chemicals on living cells. Our results demonstrate that lead field concept is expected to enhance also the development of such methods and devices.

The relationship between loading history and proximal femoral diaphysis cross-sectional geometry.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the relationship between loading history and bone biomechanical properties used in physical activity reconstructions. These bone properties included bone bending and torsional strength (J), cortical area (CA), the direction of the major axis (theta angle), and element shape ratios determined from cross sections of standardized bone length. In addition, we explored the applicability of anatomically determined cross sections. METHODS: Our material consisted of hip and proximal thigh magnetic resonance images of Finnish female athletes (N = 91) engaged in high-jump, triple-jump, endurance running, swimming, power-lifting, soccer and squash; along with a group of active non-athlete individuals (N = 20). We used regression analysis for size-adjustment, and the extracted residuals were then used to compare differences in the bone properties between groups. RESULTS: We found that triple-jumpers, soccer players, and squash players had the greatest values in CA and J, swimmers and non-athletes had the smallest, whereas high-jumpers, power-lifters, and endurance runners exhibited interim values. No between-the-group differences in element shape ratios or theta angles were found. We found that influences of activity were similar regardless of whether standardized length or anatomically determined cross sections were used. CONCLUSIONS: Extreme (triple-jump) and directionally inconsistent loading (soccer and squash) necessitate a more robust skeleton compared to directionally consistent loading (high-jump, power-lifting, and endurance running) or non-impact loading (swimming and non-athletes). However, not all of these relationships were statistically significant. Thus, information gained about physical activity using bone properties is informative but limited. Accounting for the limitations, the method is applicable on fragmented skeletal material as anatomically determined cross sections can be used.

Optical Projection Tomography Technique for Image Texture and Mass Transport Studies in Hydrogels Based on Gellan Gum.

The microstructure and permeability are crucial factors for the development of hydrogels for tissue engineering, since they influence cell nutrition, penetration, and proliferation. The currently available imaging methods able to characterize hydrogels have many limitations. They often require sample drying and other destructive processing, which can change hydrogel structure, or they have limited imaging penetration depth. In this work, we show for the first time an alternative nondestructive method, based on optical projection tomography (OPT) imaging, to characterize hydrated hydrogels without the need of sample processing. As proof of concept, we used gellan gum (GG) hydrogels obtained by several cross-linking methods. Transmission mode OPT was used to analyze image microtextures, and emission mode OPT to study mass transport. Differences in hydrogel structure related to different types of cross-linking and between modified and native GG were found through the acquired Haralick's image texture features followed by multiple discriminant analysis (MDA). In mass transport studies, the mobility of FITC-dextran (MW 20, 150, 2000 kDa) was analyzed through the macroscopic hydrogel. The FITC-dextran velocities were found to be inversely proportional to the size of the dextran as expected. Furthermore, the threshold size in which the transport is affected by the hydrogel mesh was found to be 150 kDa (Stokes' radii between 69 and 95 Å). On the other hand, the mass transport study allowed us to define an index of homogeneity to assess the cross-linking distribution, structure inside the hydrogel, and repeatability of hydrogel production. As a conclusion, we showed that the set of OPT imaging based material characterization methods presented here are useful for screening many characteristics of hydrogel compositions in relatively short time in an inexpensive manner, providing tools for improving the process of designing hydrogels for tissue engineering and drugs/cells delivery applications.

Simulation of developing human neuronal cell networks.

BACKGROUND: Microelectrode array (MEA) is a widely used technique to study for example the functional properties of neuronal networks derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESC-NN). With hESC-NN, we can investigate the earliest developmental stages of neuronal network formation in the human brain. METHODS: In this paper, we propose an in silico model of maturating hESC-NNs based on a phenomenological model called INEX. We focus on simulations of the development of bursts in hESC-NNs, which are the main feature of neuronal activation patterns. The model was developed with data from developing hESC-NN recordings on MEAs which showed increase in the neuronal activity during the investigated six measurement time points in the experimental and simulated data. RESULTS: Our simulations suggest that the maturation process of hESC-NN, resulting in the formation of bursts, can be explained by the development of synapses. Moreover, spike and burst rate both decreased at the last measurement time point suggesting a pruning of synapses as the weak ones are removed. CONCLUSIONS: To conclude, our model reflects the assumption that the interaction between excitatory and inhibitory neurons during the maturation of a neuronal network and the spontaneous emergence of bursts are due to increased connectivity caused by the forming of new synapses.

Investigating the possible effect of electrode support structure on motion artifact in wearable bioelectric signal monitoring.

BACKGROUND: With advances in technology and increasing demand, wearable biosignal monitoring is developing and new applications are emerging. One of the main challenges facing the widespread use of wearable monitoring systems is the motion artifact. The sources of the motion artifact lie in the skin-electrode interface. Reducing the motion and deformation at this interface should have positive effects on signal quality. In this study, we aim to investigate whether the structure supporting the electrode can be designed to reduce the motion artifact with the hypothesis that this can be achieved by stabilizing the skin deformations around the electrode. METHODS: We compare four textile electrodes with different support structure designs: a soft padding larger than the electrode area, a soft padding larger than the electrode area with a novel skin deformation restricting design, a soft padding the same size as the electrode area, and a rigid support the same size as the electrode. With five subjects and two electrode locations placed over different kinds of tissue at various mounting forces, we simultaneously measured the motion artifact, a motion affected ECG, and the real-time skin-electrode impedance during the application of controlled motion to the electrodes. RESULTS: The design of the electrode support structure has an effect on the generated motion artifact; good design with a skin stabilizing structure makes the electrodes physically more motion artifact resilient, directly affecting signal quality. Increasing the applied mounting force shows a positive effect up to 1,000 gr applied force. The properties of tissue under the electrode are an important factor in the generation of the motion artifact and the functioning of the electrodes. The relationship of motion artifact amplitude to the electrode movement magnitude is seen to be linear for smaller movements. For larger movements, the increase of motion generated a disproportionally larger artifact. The motion artifact and the induced impedance change were caused by the electrode motion and contained the same frequency components as the applied electrode motion pattern. CONCLUSION: We found that stabilizing the skin around the electrode using an electrode structure that manages to successfully distribute the force and movement to an area beyond the borders of the electrical contact area reduces the motion artifact when compared to structures that are the same size as the electrode area.

Micro CT visualization of silver nanoparticles in the middle and inner ear of rat and transportation pathway after transtympanic injection.

BACKGROUND: Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) displayed strong activities in anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal studies and were reportedly efficient in treating otitis media. Information on distribution of AgNPs in different compartments of the ear is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To detect distribution of Ag NPs in the middle and inner ear and transportation pathways after transtympanic injection. METHODS: Contrast effect of Ag NPs in the micro CT imaging was assessed in a phantom. AgNPs at various concentrations (1.85 mM, 37.1 mM, and 370.7 mM) were administered to rat middle ear using transtympanic injection and cadaver heads were imaged using micro CT at several time points. RESULTS: The lowest concentration of Ag NPs that could be visualized using micro CT was 37.1 mM. No difference was observed between the solvents, deionized H2O and saline. Ag NPs at 37.1 mM were visible in the middle ear on 7 d post-administration. Ag NPs at 370.7 mM generated signals in the middle ear, ossicular chain, round window membrane, oval window, scala tympani, and Eustachian tube for both 4 h and 24 h time points. A gradient distribution of Ag NPs from the middle ear to the inner ear was detected. The pathways for Ag NPs to be transported from the middle ear into the inner ear are round and oval windows. CONCLUSION: This study provided the imaging evidence that Ag NPs are able to access the inner ear in a dose-dependent manner after intratympanic administration, which is relevant to design the delivery concentration in the future clinic application in order to avoid adverse inner ear effect.

Prediction of passive drug permeability across the blood-retinal barrier.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to develop a computational model of the physical barrier function of the outer blood-retinal barrier (BRB), which is vital for normal retinal function. To our best knowledge no comprehensive models of BRB has been reported. METHODS: The model construction is based on the three-layered structure of the BRB: retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), Bruch's membrane and choriocapillaris endothelium. Their permeabilities were calculated based on the physical theories and experimental material and permeability studies in the literature, which were used to describe diffusional hindrance in specific environments. RESULTS: Our compartmental BRB model predicts permeabilities with magnitudes similar to the experimental values in the literature. However, due to the small number and varying experimental conditions there is a large variability in the available experimental data, rendering validation of the model difficult. The model suggests that the paracellular pathway of the RPE largely defines the total BRB permeability. CONCLUSIONS: Our model is the first BRB model of its level and combines the present knowledge of the BRB barrier function. Furthermore, the model forms a platform for the future model development to be used for the design of new drugs and drug administration systems.

Impedance spectroscopy of changes in skin-electrode impedance induced by motion.

BACKGROUND: The motion artifact is an ever-present challenge in the mobile monitoring of surface potentials. Skin-electrode impedance is investigated as an input parameter to detect the motion artifact and to reduce it using various methods. However, the impact of the used impedance measurement frequency on the relationship between measured impedance and the motion artifact and the relationship between the impedance and the motion is not well understood. METHODS: In this paper, for the first time, we present the simultaneous measurement of impedance at 8 current frequencies during the application of controlled motion to the electrode at monitored electrode mounting force. Three interwoven frequency groupings are used to obtain a spectrum of 24 frequencies between 25 Hz and 1 MHz for ten volunteers. Consequently, the surface potential and one channel of ECG are measured from the electrode subject to controlled motion. The signals are then analyzed in time and frequency domain. RESULTS: The results show that the different frequencies of impedance measurements do not reflect the motion in the same manner. The best correlation between impedance and the applied motion was seen at impedance current frequencies above 17 kHz. For resistance this relationship existed for frequencies above 11 kHz, Reactance did not show good time domain correlation, but had good frequency domain correlation at frequencies higher than 42 kHz. Overall, we found that the impedance signal correlated well with the applied motion; however impedance had lower correlation to actual motion artifact signal. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, we can conclude that the current frequency used for the impedance measurement has a great effect on the relationship of the measurement to the applied motion and its relationship with the resulting motion artifact. Therefore, when flat textile contact biopotential electrodes are used, frequencies higher than 17 kHz are best suited for impedance measurements intended for the estimation of electrode motion or motion artifact. For resistance, the best frequencies to use are higher than 11 kHz.

Video image-based analysis of single human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocyte beating dynamics using digital image correlation.

BACKGROUND: The functionality of a cardiomyocyte is primarily measured by analyzing the electrophysiological properties of the cell. The analysis of the beating behavior of single cardiomyocytes, especially ones derived from stem cells, is challenging but well warranted. In this study, a video-based method that is non-invasive and label-free is introduced and applied for the study of single human cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. METHODS: The beating of dissociated stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes was visualized with a microscope and the motion was video-recorded. Minimum quadratic difference, a digital image correlation method, was used for beating analysis with geometrical sectorial cell division and radial/tangential directions. The time series of the temporal displacement vector fields of a single cardiomyocyte was computed from video data. The vector field data was processed to obtain cell-specific, contraction-relaxation dynamics signals. Simulated cardiomyocyte beating was used as a reference and the current clamp of real cardiomyocytes was used to analyze the electrical functionality of the beating cardiomyocytes. RESULTS: Our results demonstrate that our sectorized image correlation method is capable of extracting single cell beating characteristics from the video data of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes that have no clear movement axis, and that the method can accurately identify beating phases and time parameters. CONCLUSION: Our video analysis of the beating motion of single human cardiomyocytes provides a robust, non-invasive and label-free method to analyze the mechanobiological functionality of cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. Thus, our method has potential for the high-throughput analysis of cardiomyocyte functions.

In silico study of the mechanisms of hypoxia and contractile dysfunction during ischemia and reperfusion of hiPSC cardiomyocytes.

Interconnected mechanisms of ischemia and reperfusion (IR) has increased the interest in IR in vitro experiments using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). We developed a whole-cell computational model of hiPSC-CMs including the electromechanics, a metabolite-sensitive sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) and an oxygen dynamics formulation to investigate IR mechanisms. Moreover, we simulated the effect and action mechanism of levosimendan, which recently showed promising anti-arrhythmic effects in hiPSC-CMs in hypoxia. The model was validated using hiPSC-CM and in vitro animal data. The role of SERCA in causing relaxation dysfunction in IR was anticipated to be comparable to its function in sepsis-induced heart failure. Drug simulations showed that levosimendan counteracts the relaxation dysfunction by utilizing a particular Ca2+-sensitizing mechanism involving Ca2+-bound troponin C and Ca2+ flux to the myofilament, rather than inhibiting SERCA phosphorylation. The model demonstrates extensive characterization and promise for drug development, making it suitable for evaluating IR therapy strategies based on the changing levels of cardiac metabolites, oxygen and molecular pathways.

Ascorbic Acid 2-Phosphate Releasing Supercritically Foamed Porous Poly-L-Lactide-Co-ε-Caprolactone Scaffold Enhances the Collagen Production of Human Vaginal Stromal Cells: A New Approach for Vaginal Tissue Engineering.

BACKGROUND: The reconstructive surgery of vaginal defects is highly demanding and susceptible to complications, especially in larger defects requiring nonvaginal tissue grafts. Thus, tissue engineering-based solutions could provide a potential approach to the reconstruction of vaginal defects. METHODS: Here, we evaluated a novel porous ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (A2P)-releasing supercritical carbon dioxide foamed poly-L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone (scPLCLA2P) scaffold for vaginal reconstruction with vaginal epithelial (EC) and stromal (SC) cells. The viability, proliferation, and phenotype of ECs and SCs were evaluated in monocultures and in cocultures on d 1, d 7 and d 14. Furthermore, the collagen production of SCs on scPLCLA2P was compared to that on scPLCL without A2P on d 14. RESULTS: Both ECs and SCs maintained their viability on the scPLCLA2P scaffold in mono- and coculture conditions, and the cells maintained their typical morphology during the 14-d culture period. Most importantly, the scPLCLA2P scaffolds supported the collagen production of SCs superior to plain scPLCL based on total collagen amount, collagen I and III gene expression results and collagen immunostaining results. CONCLUSION: This is the first study evaluating the effect of A2P on vaginal tissue engineering, and the results are highly encouraging, indicating that scPLCLA2P has potential as a scaffold for vaginal tissue engineering.