Modulation of Bio-electrical Rhythms Via a Novel Engineering Approach

Spontaneous cellular electrical rhythms govern numerous biological processes from the autonomous beating of the heart, to respiratory rhythms and insulin secretion. For instance, abnormal pacing in the heart leads to various forms of electrical disorders that necessitate conventional pharmacologic interventions and implantation of costly electronic devices that are associated with various side effects and expenses. Similarly, spontaneous electrical discharges in damaged neurons underlie neuropathic pain but limited useful therapy is available. JHU researchers have conceived of a novel method to induce and/or modulate bio-electrical rhythms in such specialized cells as cardiac, neuronal and pancreatic cells using a novel protein- and genetic-engineering approach to create a custom-tailored bio-battery. This can be accomplished by in vivo or ex vivo gene transfer of specific normal and/or engineered ion channel proteins into native tissues or stem cell-derived derivatives (followed by cell transplantation; cf. JHU ref. DM-4507), respectively, to produce the desired physiological consequences in vivo.

Category(s):