Bioelectric Thread Delivery for Restoring Cardiac Conduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current therapies for cardiac conduction disorders, such as pacemakers and catheter ablation procedures, pose significant complications and limitations, while existing stem cell-based treatments face challenges in establishing electrical coupling and engraftment, necessitating a more reliable method to reengineer physiological electrical conduction pathways in diseased hearts.
Innovation Solution
A bioelectric thread comprising a biocompatible substrate, such as fibrin, embedded or coated with electrical impulse transmitting cells like hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, forms a functional electrical syncytium to bridge conduction gaps, promoting electrical coupling and restoring impulse propagation across defective regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stem cell-based treatments are used to treat cardiac conduction disorders, then regenerative capability is improved, but electrical coupling and engraftment reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a conductive hydrogel as an intermediary substance that facilitates electrical coupling between stem cells and host cardiac tissue. The hydrogel contains conductive particles (such as gold nanorods or carbon nanotubes) that create electrical pathways, allowing electrical signals to propagate effectively from the transplanted cells to the surrounding myocardium, thereby resolving the electrical coupling reliability issue without increasing delivery system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite materials combining stem cells, conductive particles, and hydrogel matrix to create a multifunctional cell delivery system. This composite structure provides both mechanical support for cell engraftment and electrical conductivity for signal transmission, simultaneously addressing reliability and complexity concerns
2Speed
If fibrosis treatment is pursued to restore electrical conduction, then conduction velocity is improved, but tissue structural integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by modifying the electrical properties of the tissue through conductive particle incorporation. The conductive particles alter the electrical conductivity parameter of the hydrogel matrix, enabling rapid signal propagation through fibrotic tissue without requiring physical removal or replacement of the fibrotic tissue, thus preserving structural integrity while improving conduction velocity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The bioelectric thread facilitates rapid signal transmission and electrical coupling, reducing arrhythmia risk by resynchronizing cardiac electrophysiology and improving cardiac pumping efficiency, with methods to optimize delivery and mechanical integrity.
Implementation Method 1
In healthy tissues, cardiac action potentials travel through gap junction channels between adjacent CMs and and between CMs and CFs
Data Source
AI summary
A method of formulating and delivering a bioelectric thread within tissue is provided by inserting a tube-loaded needle having the bioelectric thread contained therein within tissue, and removing the needle and tube thereby leaving the bioelectric thread within the tissue, wherein the bioelectric thread includes a crosslinked material substrate having electrically conductive cells, such as cardiomyocytes seeded thereon or within.