Systems and methods for screening pharmaceutical chemicals
A method for obtaining a response of a tissue model system to an activator includes contacting a bio-artificial tissue model system with an activator and measuring cellular mechanical response thereto of at least one of contractile force and tissue stiffness. A method for obtaining a response of a tissue model system to an activator includes contacting a bio-artificial tissue model system with an activator and measuring cellular mechanical response thereto of at least one of contractile force and hysteresis.
1. A bio-artificial tissue comprising cells and extracellular matrix, the bio-artificial tissue formed on a scaffold support without a fastener to facilitate tissue adhesion, the scaffold support having at least one elongate member disposed within a well above and substantially parallel to the bottom of a well, wherein the bio-artificial tissue is suspended from the scaffold support with a space between the bio-artificial tissue and the bottom of the well.
2. The bio-artificial tissue of claim 1 , wherein the cells are selected from the group consisting of a muscle cell, a non-muscle cell, an endothelial cell, and a cardiac cell.
3. The bio-artificial tissue of claim 1 , wherein the well is positioned within a multi-well plate.
4. The bio-artificial tissue of claim 3 , wherein the multi-well plate comprises from 2 to 10,000 wells.
5. The bio-artificial tissue of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold support is a wire frame.
6. The bio-artificial tissue of claim 5 , wherein the wire is stainless steel wire.
7. The bio-artificial tissue of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold support is triangular, rectangular or circular in shape.