Abstract
We propose a bioactuator driven by a chick embryo cardiomyocyte for the investigation of cardiomyocytes as alternatives of rodent cardiomyocytes driven actuator. Chick embryo cardiomyocytes are more accessible than rodent cardiomyocytes in terms of cost and ethics. Here, we cultured chick embryo cardiomyocytes on parylene films and observed that the edges of parylene films were autonomously lifted up and down by the contractile force of cardiomyocytes. Moreover, the frequency of flapping increased in response to the addition of isoproterenol, which promotes contraction of cardiac muscles. This bioactuator would reduce the cost of experiments and thus be expected to promote the study of contractile properties of cardiomyocytes.
