Authors: Alessandra Ulivieri, Luca Lavra, Fiorenza Magi, Alessandra Morgante, Eugenio Martinelli, and Leila B. Salehi
Scientific Reports, 10 February 2026
Researchers use the Maestro MEA platform with LEAP to show baicalin protects against doxorubicin-induced electrophysiological dysfunction in human iPSC-cardiomyocytes.
Doxorubicin is an effective chemotherapeutic agent, but its use is limited by cardiotoxic side effects that can impair cardiac function. In this study, researchers investigated whether baicalin, a natural compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, could protect human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes from doxorubicin-induced damage—particularly at the electrophysiological level, where data have been limited.
Using Axion BioSystems’ Maestro Pro MEA platform, the team assessed both acute and long-term effects of doxorubicin exposure, with and without baicalin treatment. Functional recordings revealed that doxorubicin disrupted key electrophysiological parameters, while baicalin treatment (10–25 µM) mitigated these effects, stabilizing corrected field potential duration (FPDc), action potential duration (APD), beat rate, spike amplitude, and conduction velocity.
Importantly, the researchers leveraged LEAP (Local Extracellular Action Potential) technology to capture high-resolution action potential waveforms alongside conduction velocity mapping. These results demonstrate that baicalin provides measurable protection against doxorubicin-induced electrophysiological dysfunction and highlight the value of combining MEA recordings with LEAP-enabled insights to better understand cardiotoxicity and cardio-protection in human-relevant models.
