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Lejeune, E.

Publications and source records attributed to Lejeune, E..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

A high-throughput, 3D microtissue platform for multiparametric analysis of tissue remodeling.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and force generation are fundamental drivers of tissue morphogenesis and repair, yet scalable methods to quantitatively interrogate these dynamic mechanical processes remain limited. Here, we present a high-throughput screening platform that integrates engineered three-dimensional (3D) microtissues within a standardized 96-well format. We introduce a robust mold-casting fabrication process and a layer-by-layer surface modification strategy, that ensures long-term tissue stability and prevents detachment (95% tissue formation success; stable in culture for more than 10 days). This system enables simultaneous, longitudinal quantification of tissue closure, tissue contractility, and tissue compaction from a phase-contrast imaging modality. The computational data analysis tools that accompany this framework ensure reproducibility through deterministic computation and accelerate data extraction 80-fold relative to manual annotation. Using pharmacological compounds, we show that tissue closure dynamics, force generation, and compaction represent independent variables of ECM-driven tissue remodeling, challenging assumptions embedded in commonly used contraction-based assays. Furthermore, benchmarking against reported clinical drug responses demonstrates that the 3D platform better aligns with clinical outcomes (Kendall{tau} -b = 0.72, p=0.045, n =8/10) than a conventional two-dimensional scratch wound assay (Kendall{tau} -b = 0.52, p=0.25, n =4/10). Together, this work establishes a scalable assay for functional screening and quantitative assessment of tissue remodeling dynamics in three-dimensional systems.

bioengineering↗

Matrix architecture and mechanics regulate myofibril organization, costamere assembly, and contractility of engineered myocardial microtissues

The mechanical function of the myocardium is defined by cardiomyocyte contractility and the biomechanics of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Understanding this relationship remains an important unmet challenge due to limitations in existing approaches for engineering myocardial tissue. Here, we established arrays of cardiac microtissues with tunable mechanics and architecture by integrating ECM-mimetic synthetic, fiber matrices and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs), enabling real-time contractility readouts, in-depth structural assessment, and tissue-specific computational modeling. We find that the stiffness and alignment of matrix fibers distinctly affect the structural development and contractile function of pure iPSC-CM tissues. Further examination into the impact of fibrous matrix stiffness enabled by computational models and quantitative immunofluorescence implicates cell-ECM interactions in myofibril assembly and notably costamere assembly, which correlates with improved contractile function of tissues. These results highlight how iPSC-CM tissue models with controllable architecture and mechanics can inform the design of translatable regenerative cardiac therapies.

bioengineering↗