A Layer-by-Layer Single-Cell Coating Technique To Produce Injectable Beating Mini Heart Tissues via Microfluidics

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are used as an alternative for human embryonic stem cells. Cardiomyocytes derived from hiPSCs are employed in cardiac tissue regeneration constructs due to the heart's low regeneration capacity after infarction. A coculture of hiPSC-CM and primary dermal fibroblasts is encapsulated in injectable poly(ethylene glycol)-based microgels via microfluidics to enhance the efficiency of regenerative cell transplantations. The microgels are prepared via Michael-type addition of multi-arm PEG-based molecules with an enzymatically degradable peptide as a cross-linker and modified with a cell-adhesive peptide. Cell-cell interactions and, consequently, cell viability are improved by a thin extracellular matrix (ECM) coating formed on the cell surfaces via layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition. The beating strength of encapsulated cardiomyocytes (∼60 BPM) increases by 2-fold compared to noncoated cells. The combination of microfluidics with the LbL technique offers a new technology to fabricate functional cardiac mini tissues for cell transplantation therapies.