Light-triggered cardiac microphysiological model

V Vurro; K Shani; H A M Ardoña; J F Zimmerman; V Sesti; K Y Lee; Q Jin; C Bertarelli; K K Parker; G Lanzani

doi:10.1063/5.0143409

Light-triggered cardiac microphysiological model

APL Bioeng. 2023 May 23;7(2):026108. doi: 10.1063/5.0143409. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Authors

V Vurro¹, K Shani², H A M Ardoña, J F Zimmerman², V Sesti, K Y Lee, Q Jin², C Bertarelli, K K Parker², G Lanzani

Affiliations

¹ Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Teconologia, Milano, 20133 Italy.
² Disease Biophysics Group, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02134, USA.

Abstract

Light is recognized as an accurate and noninvasive tool for stimulating excitable cells. Here, we report on a non-genetic approach based on organic molecular phototransducers that allows wiring- and electrode-free tissue modulation. As a proof of concept, we show photostimulation of an in vitro cardiac microphysiological model mediated by an amphiphilic azobenzene compound that preferentially dwells in the cell membrane. Exploiting this optical based stimulation technology could be a disruptive approach for highly resolved cardiac tissue stimulation.