A conductive polymer restores connexin43 expression through the suppression of mitogen-activated protein kinases to improve intercellular communication and alleviate atrial fibrillation.

Conductive biomaterials have shown promising results for correcting pathological cardiac electrical signaling. However, their mechanisms of operation are still largely unclear. One reason behind disrupted cardiac intercellular communication, though, is lowered expression of the gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43), which may be alleviated by conductive biomaterials.