Representational image of a heart. iStock
Researchers have developed an injectable cardiac stimulator that will self-assemble and correct heart arrhythmia in emergency situations with the help of an external power source.
It will inject a solution of nanoparticles around the heart to fix arrhythmia, an significant problem that can cause your heart to beat in an irregular rhythm.
Researchers at Sweden’s Lund University conducted the stimulator testing on animals.
Following the treatment, the electrode spontaneously disappears from the body, eliminating the need for surgical extraction.
Stimulator consists of a syringe loaded with solution of nanoparticles
The injected electrode facilitates electrocardiogram measurements, regulates heartbeat in vivo, and rectifies arrhythmia. Conductive functionality is maintained for five consecutive days, and no toxicity is observed at the organism, organ, or cellular levels, according to the study published in the journal Nature.
“We have developed an injectable heart stimulator for emergency situations, which consists of a syringe loaded with a solution of nanoparticles,” said Roger Olsson, Professor of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics at Lund University and Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Gothenburg.
Nanoparticles, which are extremely small particles, can be injected with a needle thinner than a human hair.
When the solution comes into contact with tissue, a structure forms around the heart consisting of a long chain of molecules—a so-called polymer—that conducts electricity.
The injected electrode integrates with the body’s cells and facilitates ECG measurements, can regulate heartbeats, and correct arrhythmia, according to researchers at LUND University.
The illustration shows how the injectable heart stimulator is supposed to work when fully developed and tested. Credit: Lund University
Stimulator can operate with low-power inputs
“If you connect a mobile phone to the injection site near the heart, you can temporarily stimulate the heart’s rhythm for up to five days,” said Umut Aydemir, a doctoral student and first author of the study.
The stimulator can operate with low-power inputs, which can come from handheld devices, according to the researchers. They claimed that the stimulator can easily get power from mobile phones with the help of a cable.
Arrhythmia, which can be treated with medication, occurs when there are disturbances in the heart’s electrical signals, causing it to beat too fast, slow, or irregularly.
Possible to alter heart’s rhythm using electrical signals
Researchers claimed that it is also possible to alter the heart’s rhythm using electrical signals with, for example, a defibrillator or surgically implanted pacemaker.
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However, these types of interventions can be challenging in war zones, during mountain hikes, or in other environments where a defibrillator is not available, or surgery is not feasible.
Stimulator spontaneously degrades and is excreted from body after treatment
Tested on small animals, zebrafish and chicken embryos, the stimulator shows great potential and the next step is studies on larger animals, such as pigs, for translation to humans.
“The method is minimally invasive. Moreover, the heart stimulator spontaneously degrades and is excreted from the body after treatment, so it does not need to be surgically removed,” said Martin Hjort, Associate Researcher in Chemical Biology and Therapeutics at Lund University.
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Prabhat Ranjan Mishra Prabhat, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, is a tech and defense journalist. While he enjoys writing on modern weapons and emerging tech, he has also reported on global politics and business. He has been previously associated with well-known media houses, including the International Business Times (Singapore Edition) and ANI.
