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Smart Optogenetics for Real-Time Automated Control of Cardiac Electrical Activity
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Authors
Shanliang Deng
Niels Harlaar
Juan Zhang
Sven O. Dekker
Nina N. Kudryashova
Huiling Zhou
Cindy I. Bart
TianYi Jin
Georgy Derevyanko
Willem van Driel
Alexander V. Panfilov
René H. Poelma
Antoine A. F. de Vries
GuoQi Zhang
Tim De Coster*
Daniël A. Pijnappels*
* = equal authorship
Ever wondered whether it would be possible to automatically stop a dangerous heart rhythm the moment it starts?
Irregular heart rhythms—also known as arrhythmias—happen when the electrical signals that coordinate the heartbeat go off track. These disturbances can escalate quickly and may become life-threatening. Current treatments, such as pacemakers or defibrillators, can restore rhythm, but they often rely on relatively strong electrical shocks and are not always finely tuned to the exact pattern of the problem.
We asked: could we design a system that not only detects abnormal electrical activity instantly, but also corrects it in a smarter, more precise way?
What if we could “see” the heart’s electrical signals and respond in real time?
To make this possible, we built a closed-loop system that continuously monitors electrical activity in heart tissue using high-resolution optical imaging. This technique allows us to visualize how electrical waves move across the heart surface in real time.
We then use machine learning to analyze these signals as they happen. The algorithm learns to recognize patterns that indicate an arrhythmia. The moment an abnormal rhythm is detected, the system responds automatically—without human intervention.
Could light become a new way to gently guide the heartbeat back to normal?
Instead of using strong electrical shocks, we rely on optogenetics. In this approach, heart cells are made sensitive to light. When our system detects a rhythm disturbance, it delivers precisely timed pulses of light to those cells. These light signals gently steer the electrical activity back toward a stable, healthy rhythm.
By combining real-time sensing, intelligent decision-making, and targeted light stimulation, we demonstrate a new strategy for automated control of cardiac electrical activity. In the future, this approach could contribute to smarter, more adaptive cardiac devices that respond instantly and precisely when the heart needs help most.
Journal info
Article type: Research Article
Impact factor: 14.1
ISSN: 2198-3844 (online)
Advanced Science is a premier interdisciplinary open access journal covering fundamental and applied research across a broad range of fields, including materials science and chemistry, physics and engineering, life and health sciences, earth and environmental sciences, as well as social sciences and humanities.
Advanced Science publishes cutting-edge research through rigorous, efficient, and fair review process, ensuring fast publication with high quality standards and an exceptional author experience. Top science enjoying maximum accessibility is the aim of this vibrant and innovative journal.
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