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Silicon Nanowires and Optical Stimulation for Investigations of Intra- and Intercellular Electrical Coupling
Published on: January 28, 2021
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Monolithic silicon for high spatiotemporal translational photostimulation
Pengju Li1, Jing Zhang2, Hidenori Hayashi3
1Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Nature
|February 21, 2024
Summary
This study introduces a novel non-genetic optogenetic platform for precise cardiac pacing. The semiconductor-based system enables leadless, multisite optical stimulation, offering a promising alternative for cardiac resynchronization therapy.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Research
- Optoelectronics
Background:
- Electrode-based electrical stimulation is standard for clinical bioelectronic devices like pacemakers.
- Current leadless multisite stimulation faces technical and spatial limitations.
- Optogenetics offers optical control but has clinical translation challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a non-genetic, semiconductor-based platform for tunable spatiotemporal photostimulation of cardiac systems.
- To assess the performance of leadless silicon photoelectrochemical devices for cardiac pacing.
- To demonstrate the clinical potential of optical pacing for conditions like cardiac resynchronization therapy.
Main Methods:
- Developed leadless silicon-based monolithic photoelectrochemical devices.
- Utilized spatiotemporal profiling of photoelectrochemical currents to assess photostimulation.
- Demonstrated optical overdrive and multisite pacing in vitro (cardiomyocytes), ex vivo (rat hearts), and in vivo (rat, mouse, and pig hearts).
- Employed a custom endoscopic delivery device for minimally invasive procedures.
Main Results:
- Validated the optoelectronic capabilities of the devices for precise cardiac pacing.
- Achieved optical overdrive pacing in cultured cardiomyocytes and isolated/in vivo hearts across species.
- Successfully performed the first optical override and multisite pacing in a pig heart in vivo.
- Demonstrated closed-thoracic and endoscopic optical stimulation capabilities.
Conclusions:
- The developed platform offers tunable spatiotemporal photostimulation for cardiac applications.
- This leadless, lightweight, and multisite photostimulation system shows significant clinical potential.
- It presents a viable alternative to electrode-based pacing, particularly for cardiac resynchronization therapy, mitigating lead-placement complications.
