Thermoplasmonic modulation of cardiomyocytes activity with local temperature read-out

ABSTRACT Cardiomyocyte beating rate modulation is required in multiple in vitro assays and it is usually done by electrical or optogenetic methods. In this work, we develop and characterize a light-based strategy to modulate the cardiomyocyte beating rate by near-infrared (NIR) controlled plasmonic stimulation. For this purpose, gold nanorods (GNRs) acting as plasmonic heaters and silica-coated quantum dots (QDs) as nanothermometers are attached to surfaces used for cardiomyocyte cultures, while the cell electrophysiological activity is visualized by monitoring calcium transients via calcium imaging. This system is capable of modulating cardiac activity with near infrared-controllable plasmonic heating while measuring local temperature changes owing to the temperature-dependent fluorescence of silica-coated QDs. Table of Contents (TOC)