Reproducing Left Ventricular Twist by Mimicking Myocardial Fiber Orientation Using 3D Bioprinting-assisted Tissue Assembly

BackgroundLeft ventricular twist, an opposite rotation of the apex and base, is caused by myocardial fiber orientation, a unique structural feature of the myocardium, and contributes to the effective ejection fraction of the native heart. Reproducing this structural-functional relationship in an in vitro heart model remains challenging due to the lack of synchrony between layers when mimicking the fiber orientations of each layer. MethodsWe employed a hierarchical approach for creating multilayered and multiaxial fibers in a chamber-like structure, as follows: 3D bioprinting-assisted tissue assembly, fabrication of uniaxially aligned engineered heart tissue as a building block, and assembly of them to create a myocardial fiber orientation in a chamber-like structure. ResultThe EHT module confirmed uniaxial alignment and cardiac functions such as contractility and electrophysiological properties. By fabricating the assembly platform by 3D bioprinting, it is possible to guide building blocks in various directions as intended, confirming the versatility of this method. The assembly platform allows structural and functional synchrony of assembled tissues while controlling and maintaining predefined cellular alignment. Furthermore, various shapes and sizes of EHT modules and assembly platform were fabricated for mimicking myocardial fiber orientation in a chamber-like structure. The resulting structure exhibited three layers and three orientations representing myocardial fiber orientation. Moreover, the left ventricular twist was confirmed by measuring basal and apical rotations. ConclusionsRecapitulation of the microscale structure of the left ventricle enabled the identification of information not discernible from the existing macroscale structure. This understanding of the structure-function relationship of the heart can provide insights into the mechanisms underlying cardiac structure, function, and related diseases. Furthermore, the versatility of the 3D bioprinting-assisted tissue assembly allows for the creation of organs and tissue collections with complex structural and functional features by fabricating and assembling modules that meet the specific requirements of target tissues and organs.