Mechanotransduction of cardiomyocytes interacting with a thin membrane transducer

A novel platform is developed to study the mechanotransduction of cardiomyocytes. After the cardiomyocytes are seeded on 10 νm thin, dome-shaped membranes with different sizes, their morphology and beating frequency are monitored. While the cells seeded on a larger membrane (800 νm × 800 νm) grow normally, cells on a smaller membrane (200 νm × 200 νm) grow in isolated groups, showing a lumped morphology. The beating frequency of the cells on the smaller membrane was faster than on the larger membrane. This intriguing phenomenon may be explained by the mechanical stress determined by the area of the membrane that affects the opening of ion channels.