RESTORING CARDIAC CONDUCTIVITY IN ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND LEFT BUNDLE BRANCH BLOCKS WITH NOBLE METAL-BASED NANO-BIOMATERIALS

The NANOBEAT consortium is focused on addressing the significant issue of impaired cardiac conductivity and its associated cardiac arrhythmias in the European Union. These conditions affect around 13-22 million people in the European Union alone.Two of the most important arrhythmias in this context are Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and Left Bundle Branch Blocks (LBBB The debilitating consequences of LBBB and AF include stroke, HF, and death and also contribute greater than 2.6% of the annual healthcare expenditure in the EU.Currently available therapies for AF and LBBB have limited effectiveness, with efficacy rates ranging from 35-60% in patients. These therapies are also associated with low biocompatibility and require costly follow-up treatment.The NANOBEAT consortium aims to develop a new medical device called CardioINK - a composite biomaterial composed of noble metal-based nanowires in a collagen-alginate hydrogel delivered to damaged cardiac tissue using specialized minimally invasive catheters. The nanowires self-assemble in the damaged areas, restoring cardiac signaling conductivity and resolving the negative effects of AF and LBBB.Preliminary results from porcine animal models treated with CardioINK have shown 100% efficacy in diminishing the negative effects of LBBB and AF. The ultimate goal of the consortium is to ready CardioINK for first-in-human trials by project end. NANOBEAT will also develop a commercialization and regulatory strategy to introduce CardioINK to both the EU and US markets. Recognizing the importance of including the patient perspective in the development process, NANOBEAT will establish patient advisory boards to ensure that the patient voice and needs are integrated into the development of CardioINK in all stages.Overall, the NANOBEAT consortium's efforts to develop CardioINK have the potential to revolutionize treatment options for individuals with impaired cardiac conductivity and significantly improve patient outcomes.