Molecular structure of cultured heart tissue slices

We propose a scanning diffraction study targeting the molecular structure in cultured heart tissue (pig model), to evaluate the development of cultured cardiac tissue which is kept in a novel setup where the tissue can be subjected to different mechanical loads as well as electrical pacing rates, optogenetic or biochemical/pharmaceutical signals[1]. Recent progress in the group of co-proposer T. Brügmann has allowed to keep slices of pig heart tissue in culture for several days, and to use this setup to address questions in cardiac electrophysiology, vegetative physiology and to explore new treatment options including optogenetic termination of cardiac arrhythmia [2,3]. In this proposal, we want to use SAXS with highly brilliant radiation and scanning X-ray diffraction with micro-focused undulator radiation to evaluate the changes of the cultured slices over time and as a function of mechanical loading (prestress, mechanical stimulation).