Abstract
Developing predictive and human-relevant cardiac models that balance accuracy and scalability is a significant challenge in preclinical drug development. Engineered heart tissues (EHTs) can fill this gap but often face issues with reproducibility and throughput. We introduce Cuore, a multi-well contractility platform from Optics11 Life. It allows standardized generation, pacing, and real-time force measurement of 3D cardiac tissues with sub-micronewton precision through optical interferometry. Using human iPSC-derived ventricular cardiomyocytes from Axol Bioscience and primary cardiac fibroblasts, we created a reliable, validated-on-Cuore EHT kit. These tissues showed stable maturation and functionality for up to 42 days. Pharmacological testing confirmed strong, reproducible inotropic responses, indicating sensitivity to drug-induced functional changes.
