BOSTON — CytoTronics, a leader in semiconductor-based platforms for cellular research, has launched a groundbreaking cardiac application for its Pixel system, enabling researchers to simultaneously assess electrical activity, contractility, and structural changes in heart cells. The innovation is poised to accelerate early-stage drug discovery and screening for cardiovascular disease and cardiotoxicity.
The new cardiac application builds on the company’s Pixel platform and is designed to streamline workflows by consolidating multiple assays into a single, multiplexed format. Traditionally, researchers have relied on separate, often disconnected systems to evaluate contractility, electrical signals, and cell morphology in cardiomyocytes. Pixel now allows for all these measurements to be captured in real time using the same cells within a 96- or 384-well plate format.
“This integrated approach addresses long-standing inefficiencies in cardiovascular research,” said Shalaka Chitale, Ph.D., head of biology and data science at CytoTronics. “By simplifying data collection and enhancing reproducibility, Pixel enables faster and more confident decisions in drug development.”
With the FDA signaling a move away from mandatory animal testing, the Pixel cardiac application arrives at a critical time. Its in vitro capabilities allow scientists to monitor both acute and long-term responses to drug compounds using human heart cells. This could help identify cardiotoxicity earlier in the development process while reducing the need for animal studies.
Pixel uses microchip technology embedded at the base of each well, containing thousands of electrodes that provide detailed spatial resolution of up to 400 microns. This allows researchers to track subtle changes in cell behavior over time—across days, weeks, or even months—as disease models mature. Measurements can be taken in both 2D and 3D cultures and in co-culture models, offering a broad view of cardiac health and drug response.
The system is also built for scalability. Researchers can begin with a single Pixel Primo plate or run multiple plates simultaneously using the Pixel Octo setup, integrating with automated systems for high-throughput screening. A cloud-based interface provides remote, real-time access to data and includes robust analysis tools.
“Accurately correlating electrical activity with contractile function is critical to advancing targeted therapies for heart disease,” said Dr. Ioannis Karakikes of Stanford University, a collaborator on the project and member of the international PRIORITY consortium. “Pixel’s ability to deliver high-resolution, reproducible insights makes it a valuable tool in the effort to define and treat complex cardiac phenotypes.”
Pixel is already in use at several partner institutions, including Stanford University, FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics, Ncardia, and Axol Bioscience. CytoTronics’ early collaborators are exploring how the platform can inform drug safety decisions and streamline preclinical development for heart-related treatments.
By offering a fully integrated, data-rich approach to cardiac measurement, CytoTronics aims to redefine how researchers study and screen therapies for one of the world’s leading causes of death.
