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Probing the mechanobiological properties of human embryonic stem cells in cardiac differentiation by optical tweezers

  • Youhua Tan
  • , Chi-wing Kong
  • , Shuxun Chen
  • , Shuk Han Cheng
  • , Ronald A. Li
  • , Dong Sun

    Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

    Abstract

    Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and hESC-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CM) hold great promise for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However the mechanobiological properties of hESC and hESC-CM remains elusive. In this paper, we examined the dynamic and static micromechanical properties of hESC and hESC-CM, by manipulating via optical tweezers at the single-cell level. Theoretical approaches were developed to model the dynamic and static mechanical responses of cells during optical stretching. Our experiments showed that the mechanical stiffness of differentiated hESC-CM increased after cardiac differentiation. Such stiffening could associate with increasingly organized myofibrillar assembly that underlines the functional characteristics of hESC-CM. In summary, our findings lay the ground work for using hESC-CMs as models to study mechanical and contractile defects in heart diseases. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)123-128
    JournalJournal of Biomechanics
    Volume45
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 3 Jan 2012

    UN SDGs

    This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

    1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
      SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

    Research Keywords

    • Biomechanics
    • Cardiac differentiation
    • Cell manipulation
    • Human embryonic stem cell
    • Optical tweezers

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