Dynamic AFM elastography reveals phase dependent mechanical heterogeneity of beating cardiac myocytes

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12 Scopus citations

Abstract

We developed a novel atomic force microscope (AFM) indentation technique for mapping spatiotemporal stiffness of spontaneously beating neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Cells were indented at a rate close but unequal to their contractile frequency. Resultant apparent elastic modulus cycled at a predictable envelope frequency between a systolic value of 26.2 ± 5.1 kPa and a diastolic value of 7.8 ± 4.1 kPa. In cells probed along their axis, spatial heterogeneity of systolic stiffness correlated with the sarcomeric structure of underlying myofibrils. Treatment with blebbistatin eliminated contractile activity and resulted in a uniform modulus of 6.5 ± 4.8 kPa. The technique provides a unique means of probing the mechanical effects of disease processes and pharmacological treatments on beating cardiomyocytes at the subcellular level, providing new insights relating myocardial structure and function.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 31st Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
Subtitle of host publicationEngineering the Future of Biomedicine, EMBC 2009
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
Pages7180-7183
Number of pages4
ISBN (Print)9781424432967
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Event31st Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society: Engineering the Future of Biomedicine, EMBC 2009 - Minneapolis, MN, United States
Duration: 2 Sep 20096 Sep 2009

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 31st Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society: Engineering the Future of Biomedicine, EMBC 2009

Conference

Conference31st Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society: Engineering the Future of Biomedicine, EMBC 2009
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityMinneapolis, MN
Period2/09/096/09/09

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