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Researchers at Mass General Brigham and Collaborating Institutions Unveil Groundbreaking Non-Invasive Cardiac Therapy
In a significant step towards advancing heart tissue repair, researchers at Mass General Brigham and their collaborators have developed an innovative, non-invasive technique that could transform the treatment of heart damage. Their pioneering work involves using light to stimulate a novel ink incorporated into bioprinted tissue, which holds the potential to regenerate damaged cardiac tissue and restore heart function.
Published in Science Advances, the study reveals how researchers have developed a method to control cardiac tissue activity using light, a breakthrough that could revolutionize how doctors approach heart repairs. The technique involves infusing 3D bioprinted tissues with an “optoelectronically active” ink, which can be remotely activated by light to trigger electrical activity in the tissue. This eliminates the need for invasive electrode placements and minimizes the risk of further damage to the body.
“We showed for the first time that with this optoelectronically active ink, we can print scaffolds that allow remote control of engineered heart tissues,” said Dr. Y. Shrike Zhang, PhD, co-corresponding author from the Division of Engineering in Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “This approach paves the way for non-invasive light stimulation, tissue regeneration, and host integration capabilities in cardiac therapy and beyond.”
The research team demonstrated the ability to synchronize the bioprinted tissues with the heart’s natural rhythm, allowing the tissue to accelerate and coordinate heart rate when stimulated by light in preclinical models. This discovery opens up the possibility of developing therapies that are not only effective in repairing damaged heart tissue but also in seamlessly integrating these repairs into the body’s natural functions.
While the technique has shown transformative potential in preclinical models, the research is still in its early stages. Zhang emphasized that future efforts would focus on exploring how to promote long-term tissue regeneration and integrate the technology within the body’s biological systems.
“Now that we have established the proof-of-concept for this technology, we are shifting our efforts towards understanding how it might promote long-term tissue regeneration and integrating it seamlessly within the heart’s biology,” said Zhang.
This revolutionary development represents a significant leap forward in the field of cardiac medicine and could offer new hope for patients with heart disease or damage. With continued research and refinement, this non-invasive light-based method may one day provide a safer, more effective way to repair heart tissue, offering a transformative approach to cardiac therapy.
Disclaimer: The findings reported are based on preclinical models and may not yet be applicable to human treatments. Further research is required to validate the long-term efficacy and safety of this technique.
Source: Mass General Brigham
Journal Reference: Ershad, F., et al. (2025) Bioprinted optoelectronically active cardiac tissues. Science Advances. doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adt7210.
