Ultrapliable bioelectronic interface for mechanosensitive cardiac electrophysiology

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiovascular Research
• Materials Science

Background:

• Existing bioelectronic devices have high stiffness (megapascal moduli), creating a mechanical mismatch with soft cardiac tissue.
• This mismatch hinders the development of physiologically relevant in vitro cardiac models and limits therapeutic advancements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce Pliable Ultrathin Layered Sensing Electronics (PULSE), a novel bioelectronic platform with a tissue-matched modulus (~10 kilopascals).
• To enable long-term, high-fidelity monitoring of cardiac electrophysiology in vitro.
• To improve in vitro cardiac disease modeling and drug response assessment.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of PULSE using a soft gel matrix and an ultrathin nanofilm embedded with stretchable gold microcircuitry.
• Integration of the PULSE platform with cardiac tissue in vitro.
• Long-term electrophysiological and mechanical monitoring of cardiac tissue on the PULSE platform.
• Assessment of drug sensitivity and response in cardiac dysfunction models.

Main Results:

• Achieved unprecedented tissue integration and preservation of natural cardiomyocyte mechanics.
• Observed a 140% increase in mechanical contraction and a 100% increase in electrical signals compared to conventional electronics.
• Demonstrated enhanced drug sensitivity and response in cardiac dysfunction models grown on the PULSE platform.

Conclusions:

• The PULSE platform effectively bridges the mechanical mismatch between bioelectronics and cardiac tissue.
• This technology revolutionizes in vitro cardiac modeling by preserving natural tissue function and enhancing monitoring capabilities.
• PULSE offers a transformative approach for advancing cardiac research, disease modeling, and next-generation bioelectronic applications.