The present invention provides a new polyester biomaterial through a simple one-step polycondensation synthesis. 124 polymer exhibited highly elastic properties under aqueous conditions that were tunable according to the UV light exposure, monomer composition, and porosity of the cured elastomer. Its elastomeric properties fell within the range of adult heart myocardium, but they could also be optimized for higher elasticity for weaker immature constructs. The polymer showed relatively stable degradation characteristics, both hydrolytically and in a cellular environment, suggesting maintenance of material properties as a scaffold support for potential tissue implants. When assessed for cell interaction, this polymer supported rat cardiac cell attachment in vitro as well as decreased fibrous capsule formation in vivo when compared to poly(L-lactic acid) control. This suggests the potential applicability of this material as an elastomer for cardiac tissue engineered constructs. Furthermore, the highly elastic polyester could be molded and photocrosslinked into a complex mesh structure with feature size on the order of tens of micrometers, demonstrating utility in cardiac tissue engineering constructs.

The present invention relates to cells with altered cell cycle control. In particular, the present invention provides cells with altered cell cycle control and uses of such cells to identify metabolically active agents.

The invention relates to methods of assessing communication between cells. Methods of the invention use optical reporters of cellular electrical activity to evaluate signal propagation between cells and can be used to study an individual synapse or a complex network of interconnected cells. Aspects of the invention provide a method for characterizing signal propagation between cells. The method includes providing a first cell containing a light-generating reporter and a second cell, in which the first cell and the second cell are in communication. The second cell may contain an optical actuator of cellular electrical activity. The second cell is exposed to a stimulus and an optical signal from the first cell is detected.

A method of assaying wound healing can include: growing cells on the matrix in the first flow channel; introducing an agent that removes the matrix from the junction; introducing a matrix material into the second flow channel so as to form the second matrix in the second flow channel and junction; and detecting cellular migration into the junction onto the second matrix. The agent that removes the matrix can include a biomolecule or chemical agent. The method can include removing cells in the matrix in the junction before introducing the matrix material into the second flow channel. A bioactive agent can be introduced into the junction to determine if it modulates cellular migration and/or clot formation into the intersection openings of tissue and vascular channels.

Methods of inducing bradycardia (slowing a heart rate) in a subject in need thereof, treating a medical condition in which inducing bradycardia (slowing a heart rate) is desirable or beneficial in a subject in need thereof and/or treating a medical condition associated with cardiac arrhythmia, are provided. The methods are effected by blocking SK4 channel in SAN cell of the subject and/or by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a blocker of an SK4 channel. A method of identifying candidate compounds for treating an arrhythmic cardiac disorder, by identifying compounds that reduce a pacing rate of the SAN cells is also provided.

The present invention relates to a method of determining the risk of drug induced arrhythmia using stem cell derived cardiomyocytes in a high-throughput impedance or multi-electrode array assay.

Provided is a cardiotoxicity assessment method which comprises: seeding cardiomyocytes in a culture container together with a culture medium; adding a drug to the culture medium in the culture container to bring the drug into contact with the cardiomyocytes; and measuring a heart disease biomarker secreted from the cardiomyocytes to assess cardiotoxicity of the drug, wherein at least a culture surface of the culture container is composed of an alicyclic structure-containing polymer, and the culture surface has a surface free energy of 30 to 37 mN/m.

Provided are assay systems for determining the therapeutic or toxic effect of a putative drug based on assaying its activity in cells which have been differentiated in vitro from stem cells, and induced to display a phenotype that resembles a disease to be treated.

The present invention discloses a set of human microRNAs, or a primary transcript for such microRNAs, or a precursor of such microRNAs, or a mimic of such microRNAs or a combination thereof, and their use as medicaments for inducing proliferation of cardiomyocytes for the prevention and treatment of heart diseases associated with a loss of cardiomyocytes. The invention also relates to a method for screening microRNAs and biological and therapeutically active compounds for their ability to increase proliferation of cardiomyocytes.

The present invention provides high throughput assays for identifying compounds that modulate a contractile function, as well as devices suitable for use in these assays.