Biomedical Engineering in Cardiovascular Disease: Heart Attack In Vitro
Student: Dymonn Johnson
Major Professor: Dr. Morten Jensen and Dr. Hanna Jensen
Research Area(s):
Biomedical Engineering
Background/Relevance
- In vitro studies are performed with microorganisms, cells, or biological molecules outside of their normal context.
- A myocardial infarction (heart attack) occurs when the blood flow to the heart is blocked. This causes the heart to become ischemic (oxygen and nutrient deprived).
- The ultimate goal of most biological research is to gain greater insight into mechanisms of human diseases, or to develop new and improved therapies and/or diagnostics.
Innovation
-
Create a perfused cardiac cell culture to induce ischemia of cardiomyocytes, and investigate the effects.
Approach
- Primary cardiac cells (Cardiomyocytes) culturing.
- Cell lines (L6 Cells) culturing.
- Create a perfused cardiac cell culture, using a 3D printer, to induce ischemia of cardiomyocytes.
Key Results
- L6 cells were successfully cultured, passaged, and preserved and, thus, equipment and facilities were deemed appropriate for project.
- Cardiomyocytes were successfully harvested from 2-day old rat pups.
- Harvested cardiomyocytes began to beat in culture flask after one month.
- Bioreactor prototype was perfused successfully.
Conclusions
- Cardiomyocytes were successfully harvested, remained viable for an extended period of time, and electric activity occurred (beating).
- Bioreactor prototype is complete and ready for testing in ischemic environment.
Future Work
- Use perfused cell culture to induce ischemia of cardiomyocytes.