2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (36): 7856-7862

Academic progress and clinical application of in vitro synthetic microenvironment to promote maturation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes

Liu Lu1, Zhong Chang2, Yu Xin2, Ren Chenyuan2, Gong Yangyang2, Zhou Ping2, Wang Yingbin1   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes offer an ideal cellular resource for studying heart diseases, conducting drug screening, developing in vitro heart models, and exploring potential cell therapies. However, human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes are characterized by immaturity with limited specific gene expression, low Ca2+ processing levels, and underdeveloped structural, metabolic, and electrophysiological features. These limitations significantly impede the application of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.
OBJECTIVE: To review the academic progress and clinical application of promoting the maturation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes by in vitro synthetic microenvironment.
METHODS: CNKI, WanFang, VIP, PubMed, Web of Science, and Medline databases were searched, with “human pluripotent stem cells, human myocardial cells, hPSC-CMs, mature, OA, human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, hPSC-CMs” as English search terms and “human pluripotent stem cells, cardiomyocytes, mature, OA, hPSC-CMs” as Chinese search terms. All relevant literature published from January 2002 to July 2024 was retrieved and 82 articles were included in the review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) In recent years, in vitro synthetic microenvironments have attracted extensive attention due to their excellent intrinsic properties such as stiffness, plasticity, nanoscale morphology, and chemical functionality. (2) Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes can be used as an effective platform for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. (3) Mechanical stimulation, electrical stimulation, addition of biochemical molecules, and three-dimensional culture methods are effective methods to promote the maturation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, which can further promote the clinical application of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.

Key words: in vitro synthetic microenvironment, human pluripotent stem cell, cardiomyocyte, cell maturation, physical method, biochemical method, three-dimensional culture method, clinical application, review