Engineered adult-like human heart tissue

1. An engineered three dimensional micro-tissue comprising a cell-hydrogel construct comprising electromechanically conditioned mature cardiomyocytes and dermal fibroblasts encapsulated in a fibrin hydrogel, and wherein the electromechanical conditioning comprises subjecting said construct to electrical stimulation that increases in intensity over a time period, wherein said electrical stimulation results in the micro-tissue comprising sarcomeres and a network of T-tubules.

2. The engineered three dimensional micro-tissue of claim 1 , wherein the micro-tissue further comprises mitochondria or sarcoplasmic reticulum.

3. The engineered three dimensional micro-tissue of claim 1 , wherein the micro-tissue exhibits a positive force-frequency relationship.

4. The engineered three dimensional micro-tissue of claim 3 , wherein the positive force-frequency relationship comprises a force of about 1 to about 2 mN/mm2 at a frequency of about 0 to 6 Hz.

5. The engineered three dimensional micro-tissue of claim 1 , wherein the micro-tissue exhibits a physiological response to beta-adrenergic stimulation.

6. The engineered three dimensional micro-tissue of claim 5 , wherein the micro-tissue is useful for predictive drug screening, and further wherein the micro-tissue is capable of exhibiting a drug response.

7. The engineered three dimensional micro-tissue of claim 1 , wherein the micro-tissue comprises sarcomeres, a network of T-tubules, mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum.

8. The engineered three dimensional micro-tissue of claim 1 , wherein the electromechanical stimulation comprises a frequency that increases gradually from 2 Hz at the end of week 1 to 6 Hz over a 2-week time period, and at 6 Hz for one more week.

9. The engineered three dimensional micro-tissue of claim 1 , wherein the electromechanical stimulation comprises subjecting the engineered tissue to tension.

10. The engineered three dimensional micro-tissue of claim 1 , wherein the sarcomeres are registers of sarcomeres having A- and I bands, and M- and Z-lines.

11. The engineered three dimensional micro-tissue of claim 1 , wherein the network of T-tubules are disposed in both the longitudinal and axial orientations.

12. An engineered three dimensional micro-tissue, comprising: a cell-hydrogel construct containing electromechanically conditioned dermal fibroblasts and mature cardiomyocytes, and wherein the electromechanical conditioning comprises subjecting said construct to electrical stimulation that increases in intensity over a time period, wherein said electrical stimulation results in the micro-tissue comprising a network of transverse-tubules, and further wherein the micro-tissue exhibits a positive force-frequency response.

13. The engineered three dimensional micro-tissue of claim 12 , wherein the electromechanically conditioned micro-tissue comprises a sarcoplasmic reticulum and the micro-tissue exhibits calcium homeostasis.

14. The engineered three dimensional micro-tissue of claim 12 , wherein the network of transverse tubules are disposed in both the longitudinal and axial orientations.

15. The engineered three dimensional micro-tissue of claim 12 , wherein the micro-tissue exhibits expression of calcium-induced calcium release modulators.

16. The engineered three dimensional micro-tissue of claim 15 , wherein the calcium release modulators are selected from the group consisting of: ryranodine receptor 2, junctophillin-2 or a combination thereof.

17. An engineered three dimensional micro-tissue, comprising: a cell-hydrogel construct comprising electromechanically conditioned dermal fibroblasts and mature cardiomyocytes, wherein the electromechanically conditioning comprises stretching the construct between first and second pillars and subjecting said construct to electrical stimulation, said electrical stimulation including exposure to a frequency that gradually increase from 2 Hz to 6 Hz over a time period, and wherein said electrical stimulation results in the micro-tissue comprising sarcomeres and a network of transverse-tubules.

18. The engineered three-dimensional micro-tissue of claim 17 , wherein the micro-tissue exhibits a positive force-frequency response.

19. The engineered three-dimensional tissue of claim 17 , wherein the micro-tissue further comprises mitochondria or a sarcoplasmic reticulum.

20. The engineered three-dimensional tissue of claim 17 , wherein the tissue exhibits a positive force-frequency relationship.

21. The engineered three-dimensional tissue of claim 20 , wherein the positive force-frequency relationship comprises a force of about 1 to about 2 mN/mm2 at a frequency of about 0 to 6 Hz.

22. The engineered three-dimensional tissue of claim 17 , wherein the micro-tissue exhibits a physiological response to beta-adrenergic stimulation.

23. The engineered three-dimensional tissue of claim 22 , wherein the micro-tissue is useful for predictive drug screening, and further wherein the micro-tissue is capable of exhibiting a drug response.

24. The engineered three-dimensional micro-tissue of claim 17 , wherein the mature cardiomyocytes are derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from a patient having a disease, and further wherein the micro-tissue is used as a personalized disease model for the patient with the disease.

25. The engineered three-dimensional micro-tissue of claim 24 , wherein the disease model is fora genetic disease.

26. The engineered three-dimensional micro-tissue of claim 25 , wherein the genetic disease is Timothy syndrome.

27. The engineered three-dimensional micro-tissue of claim 24 , wherein the disease model is for inflammation or hypoxia.