Lind, JohanBusbee, Travis AlexanderValentine, AlexanderPasqualini, FrancescoYuan, HongyanYedid, MoranPark, Sung-JinKotikian, ArdaNesmith, Alexander PeytonCampbell, Patrick H.Vlassak, JoostLewis, JenniferParker, Kevin2016-11-042016Lind, Johan U., Travis A. Busbee, Alexander D. Valentine, Francesco S. Pasqualini, Hongyan Yuan, Moran Yadid, Sung-Jin Park, et al. 2016. “Instrumented Cardiac Microphysiological Devices via Multimaterial Three-Dimensional Printing.” Nature Materials (October 24). doi:10.1038/nmat4782.1476-1122http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:29332185Biomedical research has relied on animal studies and conventional cell cultures for decades. Recently, microphysiological systems (MPS), also known as organs-on-chips, that recapitulate the structure and function of native tissues in vitro, have emerged as a promising alternative1. However, current MPS typically lack integrated sensors and their fabrication requires multi-step lithographic processes2. Here, we introduce a facile route for fabricating a new class of instrumented cardiac microphysiological devices via multimaterial three-dimensional (3D) printing. Specifically, we designed six functional inks, based on piezo-resistive, high-conductance, and biocompatible soft materials that enable integration of soft strain gauge sensors within micro-architectures that guide the self-assembly of physio-mimetic laminar cardiac tissues. We validated that these embedded sensors provide non-invasive, electronic readouts of tissue contractile stresses inside cell incubator environments. We further applied these devices to study drug responses, as well as the contractile development of human stem cell-derived laminar cardiac tissues over four weeks.en-USBiomedical engineeringLab-on-a-chipSensors and biosensorsTissue engineeringTissuesJournal Article2016-09-172017-04-2510.1038/nmat4782