From 2D cardiomyocytes to 3D functional insights: translating cardiac models with the Cuore platform

Moving from 2D cardiomyocyte assays to three-dimensional engineered heart tissues provided a more direct and physiologically relevant view of human cardiac function.

In this collaborative webinar, experts from Axol Bioscience, King’s College London, and Optics11 Life explored how human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes could be translated into functional 3D cardiac models using the Cuore platform.

We began with an overview from Axol Bioscience of axoCells human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, highlighting their robust characterization, enhanced maturation, reproducibility, and suitability for pharmacological and functional assays. Through representative datasets demonstrating consistent and predictive drug responses, we illustrated their value as a scalable and reliable foundation for cardiac research and discussed key considerations when advancing from 2D systems to more physiologically relevant 3D models.

Tom Berkers, Product Manager Cuore, Optics11 Life then introduced Cuore, a platform for measuring the contractile force generated by engineered heart tissues. Unlike assays that rely on indirect electrical or imaging-based measurements, Cuore directly quantified force generation and contractile kinetics under physiologically relevant culture conditions. Researchers could follow tissue development over time, apply electrical stimulation, assess force-frequency responses, and measure parameters such as peak force, contraction time, relaxation time, and beating frequency.

Katarzyna Kmiotek-Caller from King’s College London presented experimental results showing how engineered heart tissues created with Axol cardiomyocytes could support a range of cardiac research applications. These included acute drug-response studies, beta-adrenergic receptor characterization, hypertrophy modelling with endothelin-1, metabolic analysis, and targeted gene knockdown using AAV6 vectors.

The discussion also covered practical considerations such as cardiomyocyte purity, cryopreserved versus freshly differentiated cells, tissue formation success rates, multicellular cardiac models, and the prevention of necrotic cores.

The webinar provided insight into how combining well-characterized human cardiomyocytes with direct 3D force measurements could support more predictive cardiac disease models, drug efficacy studies, and preclinical safety testing.