For her master\u2019s thesis in biotechnology, Samantha Durand proposed a scientifically ambitious and professionally strategic idea. She would attempt to create beating cardiac organoids from human-induced pluripotent stem cells\u2014and the experiment would serve as a pilot project for MatTek Life Sciences, the tissue culture biotechnology company where she works full time as an associate scientist.<\/p>\n
Scientists around the world have been working on the development of cardiac organoids\u2014lab-grown masses of cells that replicate the functions of a human heart. These small tissue cultures hold significant potential for modeling heart development, studying disease and heart defects, and safely testing drug therapies. The scientific world is particularly interested in advancing cardiac organoid technology, as heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.<\/p>\n
Durand had experience in tissue culture work, but had never attempted to create an organoid. Working in the MatTek research and development lab with support from her thesis committee, led by Professor Jennifer Hood-DeGrenier, she was able to create cellular-level cardiac tissue from iPS cells, cells that can be isolated and reprogrammed to have the potential to become any kind of human cell. The next step was to see if she could get the tiny tissue cultures to beat like a human heart.<\/p>\n
\u201cCreating organoids has a lot of steps, and Samantha was acquiring the knowledge as part of the training,\u201d recalls MatTek Chief Science Officer Dr. Seyoum Ayehunie, who also supervised the work. \u201cIn the first experiments, she was able to go further but she couldn\u2019t get it to beat. I told her to be patient and take it as far as she can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Durand kept at it\u2014over the course of four weeks she ran several more attempts, making slight adjustments to the culture conditions in the hope of achieving a beating organoid.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne day she called me and said, \u2018I have a beating heart organoid,\u2019\u201d Ayehunie said. \u201cEveryone was excited.\u201d<\/p>\n
(See video below of one of Durand’s beating cardiac organoids.)<\/em><\/p>\n