Abstract
We have created a micro spherical heart-like fluidic device powered by spontaneously contracting cardiomyocyte sheets. This device was fabricated by wrapping a beating cardiomyocyte sheet exhibiting large contractile forces, around a fabricated hollow elastomeric sphere (5 mm diameter, 250 μm polymer thickness). Fluid oscillations in a capillary connected to the hollow sphere induced by the synchronously pulsating cardiomyocyte sheet were confirmed, and the device continually worked for at least 5 days in this system. We anticipate that this device might be applied for various purposes including a bio-actuator for medical implant devices that relies on biochemical energy, not electrical interfacing. © 2006 Society for Chemistry and Micro-Nano Systems.