Light transmittance in human atrial tissue and transthoracic illumination in rats support translatability of optogenetic cardioversion of atrial fibrillation

Journal article (2023)

Authors

Emile C.A. Nyns Leiden University Medical Center
Vincent Portero Leiden University Medical Center
Guoqi Zhang Electronic Components, Technology and Materials - EEMCS
Kouchi Zhang Electronic Components, Technology and Materials - EEMCS
René H. Poelma Electronic Components, Technology and Materials - EEMCS
Balázs Ördög Leiden University Medical Center
Antoine de Vries Leiden University Medical Center
Daniël A. Pijnappels Leiden University Medical Center
Shaoyu Deng Leiden University Medical Center
T. Jin Electronic Components, Technology and Materials - EEMCS
Niels Harlaar Leiden University Medical Center
Cindy I. Bart Leiden University Medical Center
Thomas J. van Brakel Leiden University Medical Center
Meindert Palmen Leiden University Medical Center
Jesper Hjortnaes Leiden University Medical Center
Arti A. Ramkisoensing Leiden University Medical Center
Research Group
Electronic Components, Technology and Materials (EEMCS) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2023 Emile C.A. Nyns, Vincent Portero, Shanliang Deng, T. Jin, Niels Harlaar, Cindy I. Bart, Thomas J. van Brakel, Meindert Palmen, Jesper Hjortnaes, Arti A. Ramkisoensing, Kouchi Zhang, René H. Poelma, Balázs Ördög, Antoine A.F. de Vries, Daniël A. Pijnappels
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.13654
More Info
expand_more

Published Date

2023

Language

English

Faculty

Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

Department

Microelectronics

Research Group

Electronic Components, Technology and Materials

Abstract

Background: Optogenetics could offer a solution to the current lack of an ambulatory method for the rapid automated cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF), but key translational aspects remain to be studied. Objective: To investigate whether optogenetic cardioversion of AF is effective in the aged heart and whether sufficient light penetrates the human atrial wall. Methods: Atria of adult and aged rats were optogenetically modified to express light-gated ion channels (i.e., red-activatable channelrhodopsin), followed by AF induction and atrial illumination to determine the effectivity of optogenetic cardioversion. The irradiance level was determined by light transmittance measurements on human atrial tissue. Results: AF could be effectively terminated in the remodeled atria of aged rats (97%, n = 6). Subsequently, ex vivo experiments using human atrial auricles demonstrated that 565-nm light pulses at an intensity of 25 mW/mm2 achieved the complete penetration of the atrial wall. Applying such irradiation onto the chest of adult rats resulted in transthoracic atrial illumination as evidenced by the optogenetic cardioversion of AF (90%, n = 4). Conclusion: Transthoracic optogenetic cardioversion of AF is effective in the aged rat heart using irradiation levels compatible with human atrial transmural light penetration.