A Sewing Approach to the Fabrication of Eco/bioresorbable Electronics.

Eco/bioresorbable electronics represent an emerging class of technology defined by an ability to dissolve or otherwise harmlessly disappear in environmental or biological surroundings after a period of stable operation. The resulting devices provide unique capabilities as temporary biomedical implants, environmental sensors, and related systems. Recent publications report schemes to overcome challenges in fabrication that follow from the low thermostability and/or high chemical reactivity of the eco/bioresorbable constituent materials.

Soft, bioresorbable, transparent microelectrode arrays for multimodal spatiotemporal mapping and modulation of cardiac physiology.

Transparent microelectrode arrays (MEAs) that allow multimodal investigation of the spatiotemporal cardiac characteristics are important in studying and treating heart disease. Existing implantable devices, however, are designed to support chronic operational lifetimes and require surgical extraction when they malfunction or are no longer needed. Meanwhile, bioresorbable systems that can self-eliminate after performing temporary functions are increasingly attractive because they avoid the costs/risks of surgical extraction.

Wireless, fully implantable cardiac stimulation and recording with on-device computation for closed-loop pacing and defibrillation.

Monitoring and control of cardiac function are critical for investigation of cardiovascular pathophysiology and developing life-saving therapies. However, chronic stimulation of the heart in freely moving small animal subjects, which offer a variety of genotypes and phenotypes, is currently difficult. Specifically, real-time control of cardiac function with high spatial and temporal resolution is currently not possible.

Acetylcholine Reduces I and Prolongs Action Potentials in Human Ventricular Cardiomyocytes.

Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) has a meaningful basis as a potentially effective treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. There is an ongoing VNS randomized study, and four studies are completed. However, relatively little is known about the effect of acetylcholine (ACh) on repolarization in human ventricular cardiomyocytes, as well as the effect of ACh on the rapid component of the delayed rectifier K current (I).

Advances in Implantable Optogenetic Technology for Cardiovascular Research and Medicine.

Optogenetic technology provides researchers with spatiotemporally precise tools for stimulation, sensing, and analysis of function in cells, tissues, and organs. These tools can offer low-energy and localized approaches due to the use of the transgenically expressed light gated cation channel Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2). While the field began with many neurobiological accomplishments it has also evolved exceptionally well in animal cardiac research, both and .