Au Nanorod-Based Thermoplasmonic Modulation of Cardiomyocyte Activity with Local Temperature Readout with Implications for Cardiac Physiology In Vitro Models

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 developed and characterized a nanoparticle-based, light-controlled platform to modulate the cardiomyocyte beating rate by near-infrared (NIR) controlled plasmonic stimulation and local temperature monitoring by quantum dot (QD) thermometry. For this purpose, gold nanorods (GNRs) acting as plasmonic heaters and silica-coated quantum dots (QDs) as nanothermometers were attached to surfaces used for cardiomyocyte cultures, while the cell electrophysiological activity was visualized by monitoring calcium transients via calcium imaging. Such stimulation methods are highly relevant for in vitro assays where control or synchronization of cell activities is required as well as for thermobiology studies.