Electrically conductive 3D printed Ti3C2Tx MXene-PEG composite constructs for cardiac tissue engineering

Gozde Basara; Mortaza Saeidi-Javash; Xiang Ren; Gokhan Bahcecioglu; Brian C Wyatt; Babak Anasori; Yanliang Zhang; Pinar Zorlutuna

doi:10.1016/j.actbio.2020.12.033

Electrically conductive 3D printed Ti₃C₂T_x MXene-PEG composite constructs for cardiac tissue engineering

Acta Biomater. 2022 Feb:139:179-189. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.12.033. Epub 2020 Dec 19.

Authors

Gozde Basara¹, Mortaza Saeidi-Javash¹, Xiang Ren¹, Gokhan Bahcecioglu¹, Brian C Wyatt², Babak Anasori², Yanliang Zhang¹, Pinar Zorlutuna³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States.
² Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute and Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, United States.
³ Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States. Electronic address: pinar.zorlutuna.1@nd.edu.

Abstract

Tissue engineered cardiac patches have great potential as a therapeutic treatment for myocardial infarction (MI). However, for successful integration with the native tissue and proper function of the cells comprising the patch, it is crucial for these patches to mimic the ordered structure of the native extracellular matrix and the electroconductivity of the human heart. In this study, a new composite construct that can provide both conductive and topographical cues for human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (iCMs) is developed for cardiac tissue engineering applications. The constructs are fabricated by 3D printing conductive titanium carbide (Ti₃C₂T_x) MXene in pre-designed patterns on polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels, using aerosol jet printing, at a cell-level resolution and then seeded with iCMs and cultured for one week with no signs of cytotoxicity. The results presented in this work illustrate the vital role of 3D-printed Ti₃C₂T_x MXene on aligning iCMs with a significant increase in MYH7, SERCA2, and TNNT2 expressions, and with an improved synchronous beating as well as conduction velocity. This study demonstrates that 3D printed Ti₃C₂T_x MXene can potentially be used to create physiologically relevant cardiac patches for the treatment of MI. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: As cardiovascular diseases and specifically myocardial infarction (MI) continue to be the leading cause of death worldwide, it is critical that new clinical interventions be developed. Tissue engineered cardiac patches have shown significant potential as clinical therapeutics to promote recovery following MI. Unfortunately, current constructs lack the ordered structure and electroconductivity of native human heart. In this study, we engineered a composite construct that can provide both conductive and topographical cues for human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes. By 3D printing conductive Ti₃C₂T_x MXene in pre-designed patterns on polyethylene glycol hydrogels, using aerosol jet printing, at a cell-level resolution, we developed tissue engineered patches that have the potential for providing a new clinical therapeutic to combat cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: Aerosol jet printing; Cardiac patches; Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte; Polyethylene glycol; Ti(3)C(2)T(x) MXene.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Humans
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells*
Myocytes, Cardiac
Printing, Three-Dimensional
Tissue Engineering* / methods
Titanium / pharmacology

Substances

Titanium

Grants and funding

R01 HL141909/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States