Bioresorbable molybdenum temporary epicardial pacing wires.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Temporary epicardial pacing wires (TEPW) are crucial for managing post-cardiac surgery rhythm disturbances.
• Retained TEPW fragments can lead to serious complications such as migration and infection.
• Current TEPW require mechanical removal, posing risks if extraction is unsuccessful.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate completely bioresorbable TEPW to mitigate risks associated with retained pacing wires.
• To assess the functionality, degradation, and biocompatibility of novel bioresorbable TEPW designs.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of bioresorbable TEPW using molybdenum (Mo) as the conductor and poly(D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) as insulating coatings.
• Comparison of pacing properties of Mo TEPW demonstrators against conventional steel TEPW using Langendorff-perfused rat hearts.
• In vitro degradation studies in simulated body fluid and cytotoxicity assessments using human cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts.

Main Results:

• Mo TEPW demonstrated comparable pacing functionality to conventional steel TEPW.
• Double-coated Mo TEPW exhibited significantly reduced degradation compared to uncoated and PLGA-coated variants in simulated body fluid.
• Mo degradation products showed low cytotoxicity, indicating good biocompatibility with cardiac cells.

Conclusions:

• Completely bioresorbable TEPW using molybdenum and polymer coatings represent a promising advancement in cardiac pacing.
• This technology offers a potential solution to prevent complications arising from retained pacing wire fragments after cardiac surgery.
• Further development of these resorbable pacing wires could enhance patient safety and improve outcomes in cardiac surgery recovery.