Simultaneous Measurement of Contractile Force and Ca2+ Concentration Distribution in Human iPS Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes

Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) hold significant promise for regenerative medicine but exhibit immaturity relative to native cardiomyocytes. To make hiPSC-CMs more similar to mature cardiomyocytes, extensive research is being conducted from biochemical, electrochemical, mechanical, and physical perspectives. Quantitatively assessing their maturation is essential to evaluate improvements in cardiac cell function and clarify the impact of previous research. In this study, we present a high-speed sensing system that enables simultaneous, real-time measurement of cardiomyocyte contractile force, and intra- and extra-cellular Ca²⁺ dynamics. To enhance measurement precision, a visualization technique is incorporated to identify individual cardiomyocytes. This simultaneous evaluation system for cardiomyocyte contractility and various ion concentrations has the potential to become an effective and powerful foundational technology for assessing cardiomyocyte maturation and the regenerative medicine applications of IPSC-CMs. The ability to convert cardiomyocyte contractile force into single-cell force implies a more universal evaluation of the mechanical properties.