Our research using tissue engineering is also focused on imitating cardiac tissue. We utilize biomaterials and Lab-on-a-chip to develop an appropriate in vitro cellular model that faithfully imitates the structure and function of human heart tissue. We study the use of biomaterials, such as nanofibers made of polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyurethane (PU), with varying properties for cell culture. We studied how the function of various cell types (heart and stem cells) changes after the usage of nanofibrous materials. Nanofibrous scaffolds, which can structurally and functionally mimic the extracellular matrix of cardiac tissue. It is important to create a structure that mimics the native extracellular matrix (ECM) to study in vitro cardiac tissue models, including cardiac cell function, cell-cell and cell-structure communication, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Moreover, we also use microfluidic and human stem cells (iPSC) to obtain cardiac organoids and more mature cardiomyocytes. The microfluidic system enables precise control of fluid manipulation and miniaturization of experiments. In addition, 2D and 3D cardiac models are used in the research project to study whether fluid dynamics affects cardiomyocyte monolayer maturation as well as cardiac organoids. The results of the research may contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the maturation of human cardiomyocytes and cardiac tissue.
People involved in the project:
- Elżbieta Jastrzęsbka
- Zuzanna Iwoń
- Aleksandra Szlachetka
- Oliwia Tadko
Publications:
- Iwoń Z., Krogulec E, Kierlańczyk A, Baranowska P, Łopianiak I, Wojasiński M, Jastrzębska E. Improving rodents and humans cardiac cell maturity in vitro through polycaprolactone and polyurethane nanofibers. Biomed Mater. 2024 Feb 12;19(2). doi: 10.1088/1748-605X/ad240a
- Iwoń, Z., Krogulec, E., Kierlańczyk, A. et al. Hypoxia and re-oxygenation effects on human cardiomyocytes cultured on polycaprolactone and polyurethane nanofibrous mats. J Biol Eng 18, 37 (2024). doi: 10.1186/s13036-024-00432-5
- Iwoń, Z., Krogulec, E., Tarnowska, I. et al. Maturation of human cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-CMs) on polycaprolactone and polyurethane nanofibrous mats. Sci Rep 14, 12975 (2024). doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-63905-z
- D. Kołodziejek, Urszula Sierańska, Zuzanna Iwoń, Iwona Łopianiak, Ewelina Krogulec, Michał Wojasiński, Elżbieta Jastrzębska, ‘Cardiac Tissue Modeling Using Flow Microsystems and Nanofiber Mats: Evaluating Hypoxia-Induced Cellular and Molecular Changes’, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, p. 135169, Dec. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2023.135169
- Kołodziejek, Dominik, Aleksandra Szlachetka, Zuzanna Iwoń-Szczawińska, Marcin Drozd, Michał Wojasiński, i Elżbieta Jastrzębska. 2025. „A Novel Holder and Microfluidic System for Spatially Controlled Hypoxia Induction, Mechanical Stimulation and Cardiac Regeneration Research”. Lab on A Chip 25:5524–5537 . https://doi.org/10.1039/d5lc00460h.
- Kołodziejek, Dominik, Oliwia Tadko, Zuzanna Iwoń-Szczawińska, Patrycja Baranowska, Marcin Drozd, Michał Wojasiński, i Elżbieta Jastrzębska. 2025. „Heart-on-a-Chip: A Novel Microfluidic Approach to Organ Modelling and Cellular Mechanobiology”. Sensors and Actuators A Physical 394:1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2025.116957.