In the renowned research labs of the University of Florence, Dr. José Manuel Pioner and his team are pioneering new frontiers in cardiac tissue physiology, with a strong focus on understanding genetic cardiomyopathies. With deep expertise in cardiac cell electrophysiology and contractility, Dr. Pioner’s research leverages induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and cutting-edge tissue engineering to unravel the cellular mechanisms behind heart disease and accelerate the development of effective treatments.
Genetic cardiomyopathies are a complex and diverse group of heart muscle diseases that impair the heart’s ability to pump blood and can lead to arrhythmias or heart failure. For clinicians and patients alike, early-stage understanding and intervention are critical but challenging.
Dr. Pioner’s research addresses this challenge head-on. His team models various types of cardiomyopathies using patient-derived or engineered iPSCs, aiming to uncover the root causes of disease progression. By replicating these diseases in the lab, they hope to test novel therapies with the potential to halt or even prevent heart failure before it starts.
The Florence-based team maintains direct collaboration with clinicians from Careggi University Hospital and Meyer Pediatric Hospital, both recognized leaders in cardiomyopathy care. These partnerships ensure that their research is closely aligned with clinical realities.
In one particularly impactful case, the team generated iPSCs from a local hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patient and compared them directly with that patient’s cardiac tissue following surgery, creating a powerful feedback loop between lab-based discovery and patient care.
Recognizing the limitations of traditional 2D or single-cell approaches, Dr. Pioner and his colleagues embraced 3D cardiac tissue engineering to more accurately model human heart muscle behavior. Seeking an extracellular matrix solution that would support this complexity, they discovered Gelomics’ LunaGel™ system.
The challenge? Achieving sufficient cell density, alignment, and physiological relevance in engineered cardiac tissues. The solution came in the form of LunaGel™, enabling the team to build tunable 3D scaffolds that replicate the native heart environment.
Using LunaGel™, Dr. Pioner’s team was able to encapsulate iPSCs directly within a 3D strip, guiding them through cardiac differentiation. Within just 7 days, the constructs began to beat spontaneously, a clear indication that the iPSCs had successfully matured into functional cardiomyocytes within the matrix.
This result not only validated their approach but also opened the door to scaling up their tissue production for broader experimental use, potentially reducing time and resource constraints often associated with sourcing mature iPSC-cardiomyocytes.
With Gelomics’ technology, Dr. Pioner’s team has enhanced the speed, efficiency, and physiological accuracy of their cardiac tissue models. These advancements support high-throughput experiments, drug testing, and deeper insights into disease mechanisms.
For researchers interested in 3D cardiac models or stem cell-based differentiation, Dr. Pioner offers this advice:
“LunaGel™ is easy and versatile. I suggest testing your preferred cell types with different ECM formulations to find the best combination.”
As Dr. Pioner’s work continues to push the boundaries of cardiac physiology research, Gelomics is proud to provide the materials and support needed to help bring his discoveries to life and ultimately, to patients.
