Flexible nanoelectronics reveal arrhythmogenesis in transplanted human cardiomyocytes

Science. 2025 Nov 13;390(6774):eadw4612. doi: 10.1126/science.adw4612. Epub 2025 Nov 13.

Abstract

The transplantation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) offers a potential treatment for heart failure, but arrhythmogenic automaticity can arise from these transplanted cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of RADA16, a clinically approved self-assembling peptide that forms nanofibers after injection, on the vascularization, myofibril structure, and electrophysiological adaptation of hiPSC-CMs transplanted into rat hearts. RADA16 accelerated the transition of hiPSC-CMs toward adultlike gene expression profiles, enhanced sarcomere organization, and improved vascularization in the transplanted site. Flexible mesh nanoelectronics revealed fibrillation of transplanted hiPSC-CMs within the beating recipient heart, and RADA16 drastically reduced the automaticity of hiPSC-CMs. Our findings demonstrate the potential of self-assembling nanofibers to advance cardiac cell therapy and how flexible mesh nanoelectronics technology could improve safety.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac* / etiology
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac* / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells* / cytology
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells* / drug effects
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells* / transplantation
  • Male
  • Myocytes, Cardiac* / drug effects
  • Myocytes, Cardiac* / physiology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac* / transplantation
  • Nanofibers* / chemistry
  • Nanotechnology
  • Peptides* / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Nude
  • Sarcomeres / drug effects
  • Sarcomeres / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Peptides
  • RADA16-I