Multimodal Characterization of Cardiac Organoids Using Integrations of Pressure-Sensitive Transistor Arrays with Three-Dimensional Liquid Metal Electrodes

Herein, we present an unconventional method for multimodal characterization of three-dimensional cardiac organo-ids. This method can monitor and control the mechanophysio-logical parameters of organoids within a single device. In this method, local pressure distributions of human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiac organoids are visualized spatiotemporally by an active-matrix array of pressure-sensitive transistors. This array is integrated with three-dimensional electrodes formed by the high-resolution printing of liquid metal. These liquid-metal electrodes are inserted inside an organoid to form the intra-organoid interface for simultaneous electrophysiological recording and stimulation. The low mechanical modulus and low impedance of the liquid-metal electrodes are compatible with organoids' soft biological tissue, which enables stable electric pacing at low thresholds. In contrast to conventional electrophysiological methods, this measurement of a cardiac organoid's beating pressures enabled simultaneous treatment of electrical therapeutics using a single device without any interference between the pressure signals and electrical pulses from pacing electrodes, even in wet organoid conditions.

Automated summary

In this study, an unconventional method for multimodal characterization of three-dimensional cardiac organoids is presented. The method utilizes an active-matrix array of pressure-sensitive transistors to visualize the local pressure distributions of human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiac organoids, and integrates it with three-dimensional electrodes formed by high-resolution printing of liquid metal for simultaneous electrophysiological recording and stimulation. This method enables electrical therapeutics of cardiac organoids without any interference between pressure signals and electrical pulses from pacing electrodes.