Research
3-D Printed Cardiovascular Tissue Models for Rapid Drug Screening
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Dr. Renato Navarro
University of Florida - Department of Materials Science and Engineering
January 2025-Present
This project aims to establish an in vitro model for cardiac drug testing by differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into cardiomyocytes. These differentiated cells will be used to build introductory heart tissue models that allow for assessment of drug toxicity, particularly cardiotoxic side effects, in a controlled lab setting. By offering a physiologically relevant alternative to animal testing, the project supports more ethical and efficient approaches to drug development.
Project Responsibilities
My role centers on maintaining healthy hiPSCs and optimizing cardiomyocyte differentiation protocols to ensure functional and viable heart cells suitable for drug screening applications. This involves daily culture maintenance and monitoring, applying advanced aseptic techniques to preserve high cell viability, and using fluorescent microscopy to assess and confirm cell health. Additionally, I manage lab materials, troubleshoot protocols and equipment, and review literature on biopolymeric hydrogels for post-myocardial infarction therapies. Through this work, I contribute to both the foundational science of stem cell differentiation and the practical development of cardiovascular models that can reduce reliance on animal models.
Figure 1: HIPSC day 2 live/dead staining; 4x magnification
Figure 2: Cardiomyocytes day 11 before media change; 10x magnification