Scientists from Harvard University and the Wyss Institute have developed a revolutionary technique that uses high-frequency ultrasound to reactivate heart cells that had stopped beating after a myocardial infarction. The procedure, successfully tested in animal models, consists of applying sound pulses at a specific frequency (1 Megahertz) that stimulates mitochondria—the powerhouses of the cell—to resume producing ATP, the molecule that fuels cellular functions.
In experiments published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, contractile function was restored in 30% of damaged cardiac tissue, significantly improving the left ventricular ejection fraction, which measures how much blood the heart pumps. Unlike other experimental methods that use drugs or gene therapy, this technique is non-invasive and requires no implants.
The mechanism is based on the phenomenon of sonoporation: sound waves create microbubbles that, upon collapsing, open temporary pores in cell membranes, allowing the entry of calcium and other factors that trigger mitochondrial reactivation. The team is now working to adapt the technology for human use, aiming to turn it into a standard treatment for patients who have suffered severe heart attacks.
Source: Science Translational Medicine (2023) - 'Non-invasive cardiac tissue reactivation using high-frequency ultrasound'
