AUTHOR=Sun Xuetao , Nunes Sara S. TITLE=Pro-maturation Strategies for Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Cardiomyocytes JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology VOLUME=5 YEAR=2017 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2017.00019 DOI=10.3389/fcell.2017.00019 ISSN=2296-634X ABSTRACT=

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CM) represent a potential unlimited cell supply for cardiac tissue engineering and possibly regenerative medicine applications. However, hPSC-CMs produced by current protocols are not representative of native adult human cardiomyocytes as they display immature gene expression profile, structure and function. In order to improve hPSC-CM maturity and function, various approaches have been developed, including genetic manipulations to induce gene expression, delivery of biochemical factors, such as triiodothyronine and alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine, induction of cell alignment in 3D tissues, mechanical stress as a mimic of cardiac load and electrical stimulation/pacing or a combination of these. In this mini review, we discuss biomimetic strategies for the maturation for hPSC-CMs with a particular focus on electromechanical conditioning methods.