Ziyu Zhou

Mr. Ziyu Zhou

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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Journal Article
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ZZZiyu Zhou
Ziyu Zhou
YSYvar P. van Steenis
Yvar P. van Steenis
SHSurya Henry
Surya Henry
EDElisa Chania Helena van Doorn
Elisa Chania Helena van Doorn
JAJorik Hans Amesz
Jorik Hans Amesz
YTYannick Taverne
Yannick Taverne
Living myocardial slices (LMSs) have shown great promise in cardiac research, allowing multicellular and complex interplay analyses with disease and patient specificity, yet their wider clinical use is limited by the large tissue sizes usually required. We therefore produced mini-LMSs (30 mm2) slices. Size effects on biomechanical properties were examined with mathematical modeling, and viability, contraction profiles, and histological integrity were followed for 14 days. In total, 34 mini-, 25 medium, and 30 large LMS were maintained viable, the smallest measuring only 2 mm2. Peak twitch force proved to be size-independent, whereas time-to-peak shortened as slice area decreased. Downsized LMSs displayed excellent contractile behavior for five to six days, after which a gradual functional decline and micro-architectural changes emerged. These findings confirm, for the first time, that mini-LMSs are feasible and viable, enabling short-term, patient-specific functional studies and pharmacological testing when tissue is scarce.