Three-Dimensional Stretchable Sensor-Hydrogel Integrated Platform for Cardiomyocyte Culture and Mechanotransduction Monitoring

Cardiomyocytes are responsible for generating contractileforceto pump blood throughout the body and are very sensitive to mechanicalforces and can initiate mechano-electric coupling and mechano-chemo-transduction.Remarkable progress has been made in constructing heart tissue byengineered three-dimensional (3D) culture models and in recordingthe electrical signals of cardiomyocytes. However, it remains a severechallenge for real-time acquiring of the transient biochemical informationin cardiomyocyte mechano-chemo-transduction. Herein, we reported amultifunctional platform by integrating a 3D stretchable electrochemicalsensor with collagen hydrogel for the culture, electrical stimulation,and electrochemical monitoring of cardiomyocytes. The 3D stretchableelectrochemical sensor was prepared by assembling functionalized conductivepolymer PEDOT:PSS on an elastic scaffold, which showed excellent electrochemicalsensing performance and stability under mechanical deformations. Theintegration of a 3D stretchable electrochemical sensor with collagenhydrogel provided an in vivo-like microenvironment for cardiomyocyteculture and promoted cell orientation via in situ electrical stimulation.Furthermore, this multifunctional platform allowed real-time monitoringof stretch-induced H2O2 release from cardiomyocytesunder their normal and pathological conditions, as well as pharmacologicalinterventions.