Injectable Pacemaker Regulates Heartbeat for Five Days, Then Dissolves

A new injectable, temporary pacemaker could address heart arrhythmias in emergencies. This nanoparticle gel can regulate the heart’s electrical signals for up to five days before safely dissolving in the body.

Arrhythmias occur when the heart’s rhythm becomes too fast, slow, or irregular, leading to serious complications if untreated. While defibrillators and surgically implanted pacemakers can correct these issues, they are not always available in urgent situations.

Researchers at Lund University have developed a highly portable alternative that could become a key item in first aid kits. This device is essentially a syringe with an ultrathin needle—thinner than a human hair—that injects a solution containing nanoparticles. Upon contact with tissue, this solution forms an electrically conductive polymer hydrogel.

The concept is to inject this hydrogel into the chest of a patient with arrhythmia, where it creates an electrode-like layer around the heart. The small injection site then serves as a contact point for an external device, such as a mobile phone, enabling ECG measurements and low-power electrical stimulation to regulate the heartbeat.

The team believes the nanoparticle gel can manage arrhythmia for up to five days, giving patients sufficient time to reach a hospital for more lasting treatment. The gel is naturally expelled by the body afterward, eliminating the need for surgical removal.

Tests in zebrafish and chicken embryos showed that the gel functioned as intended. It adhered to the heart without disrupting its rhythm. Importantly, no toxicity or behavioral changes were observed in the test subjects while the gel was in use or after it had dissolved.

The next phase involves testing the gel on larger animals such as pigs, which more closely resemble humans. The team also aims to create a mobile app to operate the pacemaker.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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