Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction: The disorders of cardiac rhythm usually induce severe cardiovascular pathologies which might pose significant threats to human health. Although multiple cardiac pacing modalities have been developed, most of them face potential limitations including structural complexity, spatiotemporal imprecision and invasive implantation requirements, thereby constraining their widespread biomedical applications. Methods: By leveraging the unique long-range focusing capability, we establish a tapered-fiber-probe (TFP) strategy enabling non-contact and highprecision near-infrared (NIR) optical pacing in zebrafish embryos, where sustained micron-scale spatial precision (3 μm FWHM) was achieved at physiologically relevant working distances. Results: Systematic characterizations revealed developmental-stage-dependent pacing sensitivity, with pacing efficacy progressively decreasing during early cardiogenesis (36 dpf) and stabilizing upon cardiac maturation (≥6 dpf). Meanwhile, anatomical mapping demonstrated 1.7-fold greater photosensitivity in sinoatrial regions compared to ventricular myocardium. Calcium imaging confirmed a photothermal mechanism wherein optical absorption of irradiated myocardial tissue activates thermosensitive protein channels, triggering calcium ion influx and subsequent depolarization. Discussion: .
Authors: Yanzheng Xie, Xiaoshuai Liu
Institution: Guangzhou University
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W4416099054