Year 2 NCE

To uniformly control the differentiation of embryoid bodies (EBs), we have developed a very simple to use culture platform the create homogenous-sized EBs.
We have made quite some progress with the EB array culture plate development, described in detail in the last progress report. Since then, we have developed a way to 1) translate to a more transparent material with lower autofluorescence (cyclic olefin copolymer, COC) to be compatible with optical imaging (Figure 1, c) and then 2) mated the microwells to the bottom of 24 well plates for ease of handling. While we have not had success with applying electric fields to induce cardiomyocyte differentiation, we are now working with !) optimizing the EB size to yield the most cardiomyocytes and then 2)perfusing the EBs with soluble factors.