Multiparametric dynamic optical coherence tomography for evaluation of human cardiac organoids subjected to external stress

Understanding how cardiac organoids respond to environmental stress is essential for advancing cardiac research and drug screening. In this study, we introduce a multiparametric dynamic optical coherence tomography (MP-DOCT) to characterize noninvasively temporal and spatial parameters of human cardiac organoids. This approach captures both temporal features, including beating, rise and decay times, resting time, contraction–relaxation duration, contraction–relaxation intervals, frequency, and maximum velocity, and spatial measures, including effective beating area and frequency mapping. These parameters were validated in two experiments: room temperature exposure and drug treatment. To evaluate responses from external temperature changes, organoids were imaged at 30 min intervals for 180 min following room temperature exposure. To examine drug-induced changes, organoids were monitored at 5 min intervals for 30 min after drug delivery. Our results provide substantial information about the functional responsiveness of cardiac organoids subjected to stress and highlight quantitative MP-DOCT imaging as a robust platform for enhancing organoid-based disease models and treatment evaluation.