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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2024.03.01.582954

Optically active, paper-based scaffolds for 3D cardiac tissue engineering

Guo, F.·Jooken, S.·Ahmad, A.·Yu, W.·Deschaume, O.·Thielemans, W.·Bartic, C.
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Abstract

In this work, we report the design and fabrication of a light-addressable, paper-based, nanocomposite scaffold for optical modulation and read-out of in vitro grown cardiac tissue. The scaffold consists of paper cellulose microfibers functionalized with gold nanorods (GNRs) and semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), embedded into a cell-permissive collagen matrix. The GNRs enable cardiomyocyte activity modulation through local temperature gradients induced by near-infrared (NIR) laser illumination, with the local temperature changes reported by the temperature-dependent QD photoluminescence (PL). The micrometer size paper fibers promote the tubular organization of HL-1 cardiac muscle cells, while the NIR plasmonic stimulation modulates reversibly their activity. Given its high spatial resolution, NIR modulation offers an excellent alternative to electrode-based methods for cell activity modulation and is more compatible with 3D tissue constructs. As such, optical platforms based on nanocomposite scaffolds will have a significant impact on the progress of drug screening, toxicity studies, and heart disease modeling.

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Guo, F., Jooken, S., Ahmad, A., Yu, W., Deschaume, O., Thielemans, W., Bartic, C.. 2024-03-02. Optically active, paper-based scaffolds for 3D cardiac tissue engineering. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.03.01.582954

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