RABBITCELLPSU

THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMPLANTABLE CELLULAR POWER SUPPLY BASED ON RABBIT CARDIAC CELLS

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'This project brings together a research fellow with a unique background in medical physics, electronics and chemistry to the biophysics group at ENS. The aim is to develop a new type of battery based on living cardiac myocyte cells. Through the application of newly-learnt life science skills the fellow will demonstrate how microfluidics can be used for the realization of this perpetual bio-battery.

Global demographics is skewing to that of an aging population which has a higher prevalence of age related diseases and growing dependence on “medical fixes.” Pacemakers and other medical electronics require batteries which must be surgically replaced every 5-7 yrs. The hazardous waste and pain associated with surgical replacement of implanted batteries could be removed by the creation of a cellular power supply which uses blood glucose and oxygen as fuel and oxidizer to produce usable electricity. Demand for such a power supply in the future will be huge and presents an opportunity for Europe to get ahead of America.

The scientific objectives are: • To create microfluidic devices with high resolution nano-structures for confining cells to specific channel regions. • To culture rabbit cardiac myocytes both individually and in colonies of varying sizes on the microfluidic device within the special adhesion zones. • To use electrophysiological and microscopic techniques to better understand the propagation of action potential through individual and colonies of cardiac cells which are specially separated within a microfluidic channel geometry.

The planned deliverables are: • A series of microfluidic devices capable of supporting individual and colonies of myocytes; • A demonstrable cellular power supply capable of producing pulsed or continuous electrical currents; • Several high quality publications relating to myocyte communication and propagation of action potentials for use in an implantable cellular power supply.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Artificial pacemakers run on batteries that must be replaced periodically. Scientists worked to develop a cell-based piezoelectric battery to generate power from the contractions of the heart, eliminating the need for surgical battery replacement.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The human heart beats rhythmically thanks to a specialised group of cardiac cells or cardiac muscle fibres known as the pacemaker that literally sets the pace of the beat. Artificial pacemakers have batteries that currently must be replaced every five to seven years with an invasive and serious operation.

Avoiding this procedure for an ageing population was the impetus behind the EU-funded project 'The development of an implantable cellular power supply based on rabbit cardiac cells' (RABBITCELLPSU). The team harnessed the power of living cardiac myocytes (muscle cells) to create the design for a new type of battery.

Cardiac myocytes are long cells with a very highly organised structure. In order to confine the cells to specific channel regions, a microfluidic device with well-defined nanostructure was produced. Investigators first used primary cardiac cells to test the system, confirming the significant role of topographic features in the homogeneity and periodicity of beating of cell clusters. The team then used electrospun nanofibres with collagen as tissue scaffolds to encourage tissue growth along preferred orientations.

Scientists then developed the means to cause induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to differentiate into cardiac myocytes. iPSCs are adult stem cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state. They are a powerful way to 'de-differentiate' cells from adults and then produce tissues that are a near-perfect match to minimise rejection by the immune system.

The resulting cardiac myocytes have been shown to form functional tissue via the microfluidic devices or scaffolds. Exploiting them for power generation via a piezoelectric response is the next step. Zinc oxide nanowires and electrospun nanofibres from polyvinylidene fluoride, or PVDF, are both under investigation as promising piezoelectric materials.

All the requisite groundwork to produce the required cellular and electrical components together with the necessary testing and measurement systems are in place. The laboratory is now routinely investigating cardiac myocytes and, in particular, their use as power devices. When ready, the cellular battery will have major impact on the quality of life of millions of people requiring surgical implantation of an artificial pacemaker.