“The early experiments have been very successful, and we’re really hopeful about the future for this translational technology,” said Pengju Li, a graduate student at the University of Chicago and first author on the paper.
“In a solar cell, you want to collect as much sunlight as possible and move that energy along the cell no matter what part of the panel is struck,” explained Li. “But for this application, you want to be able to shine a light at a very localized area and activate only that one area.”
The team set out to create a photovoltaic material that would only activate where the light struck, eventually settling on a design with two layers of P-type silicon material that responds to light by creating an electrical charge. The top layer has tiny holes to boost the electrical performance and concentrate the electricity without allowing it to spread. The end result is a tiny flexible membrane that can be inserted into the body with a tiny tube along with optic fibers in minimally invasive surgery weighing less than one-fiftieth of a gram.
“The more lightweight a device is, the more comfortable it typically is for patients,” said Li.
Although this version is meant for temporary use, it does not require another invasive surgery to remove it, it simply dissolves into non-toxic silicic acid over time. The researchers made note that the devices could be engineered to last different lifespans depending on how long the heart stimulation period is desired to last. Additionally, these first trials are with heart tissues, but this approach could be used for neuromodulation as well to stimulate nerve movements in disorders such as Parkinson’s disease or to help treat chronic pain.
“This advancement is a game-changer in cardiac resynchronization therapy,” said Narutoshi Hibino, professor of surgery at the University of Chicago Medicine and co-corresponding author on the study. “We’re at the cusp of a new frontier where bioelectronics can seamlessly integrate with the body’s natural functions.”
“I remember that day because it worked in the very first trial,” he said. “It’s both a miraculous achievement and a reward for our extensive efforts,” said Tian, speaking of the first time they tried the pacemaker in trials with pig hearts.
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Image Credit: Jean Lachat/University of Chicago
