Conductive plastic mimics heart cell ion signaling for first time

Article excerpt

Scientists at Linköping University have used conductive plastics to artificially mimic how heart muscle cells signal each other through ions, a first-time achievement published in Nature Communications. The breakthrough opens possibilities for new prostheses, heart implants, and sensors that could integrate more naturally with biological tissue. By harnessing organic electronics, researchers have created a material that responds to ion movement the way actual cardiac cells do, potentially enabling devices that communicate with the heart's electrical system rather than simply replacing it.