Light-powered biohybrid cardiac interface can synchronize heart tissue contractions

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have developed a polymeric biohybrid cardiac device that harnesses the power of light to electrically and mechanically control living heart tissue without the use of metal electrodes. The innovation represents a leap forward in how scientists study heart disease, test cardiac drugs and potentially treat life-threatening arrhythmias. The project is outlined in a paper published in the journal Cell Biomaterials.