Microfabrication Strategies for Developing Energy Transducing Bio scaffolds for Cardiac Tissue Engineering

Saturday, October 11, 2025

9:05 AM - 9:10 AM PDT

Location: Room 32B

Presenting Author(s)

Brandon Ilori

CIRM Research Intern and Undergraduate Student
University of California, Irvine, United States

Co-Author(s)

YK

Yuyao Kuang

Ph.D. student
University of California, Irvine, United States
Natalie Celt

PhD Student, Biomedical Engineering
University of California, Irvine, United States

Primary Investigator(s)

Herdeline Ann Ardona

Assistant Professor
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, California, United States

Introduction: : As tissue engineering advances toward replicating dynamic human physiological environments, there is an increasing need for platforms that not only support but also modulate and monitor cell function. This study explores the application of two microfabrication approaches for engineering film-based and 3D-printed hydrogel scaffolds, functionalized with conjugated polymer layers, capable of stimulating and sensing cardiac tissue behavior in vitro. The energy transduction capabilities of the biomaterial-based platforms to be presented focus on light-to-electrical and mechanical-to-optical conversion phenomena at the interface between in vitro cardiac monolayers and synthetic π-conjugated organic materials.

Materials and

Methods: : Spin coating was employed to fabricate multilayered bio scaffolds incorporating an elastomer layer (PDMS), conductive polymer blend (PEDOT:PSS), and a semiconducting polymer blend (P3HT:PCBM). These layers were designed to deliver optoelectronic stimulation via surface charge accumulation. Scaffold thickness and stiffness were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and nanoindentation, while photocurrent response to light pulses was quantified using a semiconductor parameter analyzer. In parallel, to fabricate force-sensing scaffolds, DLP bioprinting was used to produce micropatterned methacrylated gelatin (GelMA)-based hydrogel substrates with 20 μm resolution microgrooves. The surface of these printed hydrogels is post-functionalized via photocrosslinking approaches with a chromogenic conjugated biopolymer. Printing parameters such as exposure time and light intensity were optimized to achieve physiologically relevant stiffness and topography for cardiac tissue alignment. Cardiomyocytes were then cultured on patterned surfaces to evaluate cell viability, alignment, and contractile force deflection.

Results, Conclusions, and Discussions:: Our results show that the two classes of functional bio scaffolds for cardiac tissue stimulation and sensing developed have been successfully established using the optimized microfabrication conditions. The spin-coated scaffolds demonstrated consistent layer formation and tunable mechanical and optoelectronic properties, enabling light-induced stimulation with controllable photocurrent frequency and amplitude. These properties highlight their potential for regulating or stimulating cardiac contractility using light. Meanwhile, DLP-fabricated GelMA substrates exhibited precise microgroove architecture with high resolution, promoting cardiomyocyte alignment and maintaining anisotropic tissue morphology that facilitates substrate deflection —critical features for cardiac sensing applications using mechanical feedback. My presentation will further delve on the fabrication parameters that were most ideal for supporting biocompatibility, platform stability, and desired material function. Together, the fabrication strategies optimized for the two platforms highlighted here enable the development of integrated platforms for both stimulating and sensing cardiac tissue behavior, advancing the creation of more physiologically relevant in vitro models for studying both healthy and diseased cardiac tissue development.

Acknowledgements and/or References (Optional): :