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Cardiomyocytes
Cardiomyocytes
Cardiomyocytes are force-generating cells within heart muscle that have a large role in heart contractions.
Cardiomyocytes are force-generating cells within heart muscle that have a large role in heart contractions.
Cardiomyocytes are composed of myofibrils which in turn are composed of sarcomeres consisting of actin, myosin, and titin.
Learning more about these substructures can give insight into the mechanical and structural properties of healthy and pathological hearts.
The biomechanic analysis of cardiomyocytes can greatly benefit from intracellular heart tissue structural imaging analysis techniques.
X-Ray Diffraction
X-Ray Diffraction
X-Ray diffraction (XRD) Imaging is a non-destructive technique that utilizes the diffraction pattern produced when a beam of x-rays is directed onto a material of interest.
X-Ray diffraction (XRD) Imaging is a non-destructive technique that utilizes the diffraction pattern produced when a beam of x-rays is directed onto a material of interest.
XRD can relay information about a materialβs crystallographic structure, chemical composition, and physical properties since each material produces a unique diffraction pattern.
Our project uses XRD imaging data generated from a synchrotron located at Argonne National Laboratory, pictured below.
Our project uses XRD imaging data generated from a synchrotron located at Argonne National Laboratory, pictured below.
A synchrotron is a type of circular particle accelerator. Electrons are accelerated radially in a ring, causing the generation of x-rays which are more intense than that of the x-rays produced in laboratories. which means the sample needs to be exposed for a much shorter time.
Cell Alignment
Cell Alignment
In order to get useful XRD data, the cultured cardiomyocytes need to be ansiotropically aligned. An example of random, unaligned cells and an example of induced, aligned cells can be seen above.
In order to get useful XRD data, the cultured cardiomyocytes need to be ansiotropically aligned. An example of random, unaligned cells and an example of induced, aligned cells can be seen above.
Ansiotropically aligned cells will be oriented and grow in a single uniform direction. There are various ways to induce this time of alignment when the cells are cultured. Our specific project uses mechanical means through the use of micropatterned grooves on the substrate that the cells are cultured on.
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