# Mechanical and electrical phenotype of hiPSC-cardiomyocytes on fibronectin-based hydrogels
**Source**: https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/371801/
**Parent**: https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/project_code/315918.html
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# Mechanical and electrical phenotype of hiPSC-cardiomyocytes on fibronectin-based hydrogels
[Da Silva Costa, Ana](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/31242.html) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3229-5424](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3229-5424), [Stonkute, Lineta](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/72982.html), [Trujillo Munoz, Sara](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/45494.html) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5449-3782](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5449-3782), [Azevedo Gonzalez Oliva, Mariana](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/54190.html), [Burton, Francis](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/5268.html), [Dalby, Matthew J.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/9268.html) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0528-3359](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0528-3359), [Dobre, Oana](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/39222.html) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1968-5428](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1968-5428), [Smith, Godfrey](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/5270.html) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4821-9741](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4821-9741) and [Salmeron-Sanchez, Manuel](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/30067.html) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8112-2100](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8112-2100)
(2025)
Mechanical and electrical phenotype of hiPSC-cardiomyocytes on fibronectin-based hydrogels.
*[Advanced Healthcare Materials](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/journal_volume/Advanced_Healthcare_Materials.html)*,
(doi: [10.1002/adhm.202501595](https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202501595))
(PMID:[41316874](https://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/41316874))
(Early Online Publication)
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| | [Text](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/371801/1/371801.pdf) 371801.pdf - Published Version Available under License [Creative Commons Attribution](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). 2MB |
## Abstract
A major challenge in cardiac research is the limited translatability of drug screening and toxicity assays due to the use of in vitro models that poorly mimic the native cardiac environment. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) offer a promising route forward, but conventional 2D culture on rigid substrates hinders their functional maturation and predictive accuracy. This study addresses this problem by investigating the effect of hybrid fibronectin-based hydrogels with tunable stiffness on the mechanical and electrical properties of hiPSC-CMs. We engineered hydrogels with stiffness mimicking the lowest range of neonatal heart tissue stiffness (2–4 kPa) and compared hiPSC-CM behavior on these substrates to that on standard fibronectin-coated glass. Our results demonstrate that hydrogel culture promotes more uniform and stable cardiomyocyte contractions, as evidenced by increased single peak percentages and altered contraction duration. Electrophysiological analysis revealed that hydrogel stiffness influences action potential duration and signal amplitude. Furthermore, hiPSC-CMs on hydrogels exhibited enhanced cell-matrix and cell–cell adhesion, indicating improved structural and functional connectivity. Drug testing with known cardioactive compounds, including isoproterenol and nifedipine, revealed distinct differences in drug responses between hydrogel and glass cultures, suggesting that hydrogels provide a more physiologically relevant platform for assessing drug effects. This work highlights the potential of engineered hydrogel substrates to enhance the functional maturity and predictive accuracy of hiPSC-CMs for cardiac research and drug development.
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| Item Type: | Articles |
| Additional Information: | M.S-S is grateful for financial support from the European Research Council AdG (Devise, 101054728) and EPSRC HT2050 grant (EP/X033554/1). IBEC is a recipient of a Severo Ochoa Award of Excellence from MINCIN and member of CERCA Programme / Generalitat de Catalunya. |
| Keywords: | Hydrogels, iPSC-cardiomyocytes, mechanical properties. |
| Status: | Early Online Publication |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | [Da Silva Costa, Dr Ana](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/31242.html) and [Stonkute, Lineta](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/72982.html) and [Dalby, Professor Matthew](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/9268.html) and [Salmeron-Sanchez, Professor Manuel](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/30067.html) and [Burton, Dr Francis](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/5268.html) and [Trujillo Munoz, Dr Sara](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/45494.html) and [Azevedo Gonzalez Oliva, Mariana](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/54190.html) and [Smith, Professor Godfrey](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/5270.html) and [Dobre, Dr Oana](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/39222.html) |
| Authors: | [Da Silva Costa, A.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/31242.html), [Stonkute, L.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/72982.html), [Trujillo Munoz, S.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/45494.html), [Azevedo Gonzalez Oliva, M.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/54190.html), [Burton, F.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/5268.html), [Dalby, M. J.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/9268.html), [Dobre, O.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/39222.html), [Smith, G.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/5270.html), and [Salmeron-Sanchez, M.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/30067.html) |
| College/School: | [College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/20000000/) > [School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/25200000/) [College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/20000000/) > [School of Molecular Biosciences](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/25400000/) [College of Science and Engineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/30000000/) [College of Science and Engineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/30000000/) > [School of Engineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/30300000/) [College of Science and Engineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/30000000/) > [School of Engineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/30300000/) > [Biomedical Engineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/30303000/) |
| Journal Name: | [Advanced Healthcare Materials](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/journal_volume/Advanced_Healthcare_Materials.html) |
| Publisher: | Wiley |
| ISSN: | 2192-2640 |
| ISSN (Online): | 2192-2659 |
| Published Online: | 29 November 2025 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2025 Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Advanced Healthcare Materials 2025 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
University Staff: [Request a correction](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/cgi/request_correction?eprintid=371801) | Enlighten Editors: [Update this record](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint::View&eprintid=371801)
Funder and Project Information
[Funder and Project Information](#)
[Funder and Project Information](#)
Project Code
Award No
Project Name
Principal Investigator
Funder's Name
Funder Ref
Lead Dept
[315918](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/project_code/315918.html)
DEVISE - Engineered viscoelasticity in regenerative microenvironments
Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez
[EPSRC EU Guarantee (EPSRCEU)](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/funder/EPSRC_EU_Guarantee_=28EPSRCEU=29.html)
101054728
ENG - Biomedical Engineering
[318950](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/project_code/318950.html)
Mechanobiology-based medicine - Phase 2
Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez
[Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/funder/Engineering_and_Physical_Sciences_Research_Council_=28EPSRC=29.html)
EP/X033554/1
ENG - Biomedical Engineering
Deposit and Record Details
[Deposit and Record Details](#)
[Deposit and Record Details](#)
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| ID Code: | 371801 |
| Depositing User: | [Ms Jacqui Brannan](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/profile/6299) |
| Datestamp: | 13 Nov 2025 14:57 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Dec 2025 08:40 |
| Date of acceptance: | 12 November 2025 |
| Date of first online publication: | 29 November 2025 |
| Date Deposited: | 13 November 2025 |
| Data Availability Statement: | Yes |
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