A Soft and Absorbable Temporary Epicardial Pacing Wire.

Existing temporary epicardial pacing wires (TPWs) are rigid and non-absorbable, such that they can cause severe complications after cardiac surgery. Here, a soft and absorbable temporary epicardial pacing wire (saTPW) for effectively correcting abnormal heart rates in a rabbit model, such as bradycardia and ventricular premature beat, is developed. The saTPW exhibits excellent conductivity, flexibility, cycling stability (>100 000 cycles), and less inflammatory response during two-month subcutaneous implantation in a rat model. The saTPW which consists of poly(l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) and liquid metal, can degrade about 13% (mass loss) in the rats over a two-month subcutaneous implantation. It can be absorbed over time in the body. The cytocompatibility and absorbability avoid secondary injuries caused by remaining wires which are permanently left in the body. The saTPW will provide a great platform for diagnosis and treatments in cardiovascular diseases by delivering the physiological signal and applying electrical stimulation for therapy.