Unlocking New Possibilities in Cardiac Research with Voltage-Sensitive Dyes
Exciting times for cardiac electrophysiology!
A groundbreaking development in optical mapping is set to transform how we study the electrical activity of the heart. The latest aminochromene-based Voltage-Sensitive Dyes (VSDs) are pushing the limits of precision and depth in cardiac imaging, offering a whole new level of insight into cardiac action potential.
What Makes These Dyes So Powerful?
Longer Wavelengths = Deeper Penetration
These new dyes feature 60-80 nm red-shifted absorption and emission spectra, allowing for deeper tissue penetration—ideal for more reliable, high-resolution optical mapping in heart tissue.
Clear Action Potential Mapping
In ex vivo murine heart tissue, these dyes successfully resolved cardiac action potentials with a 12% ΔF/F per action potential, providing unmatched clarity for voltage imaging and electrical mapping of the heart.
Simultaneous Imaging & Optogenetic Manipulation
With well-separated excitation spectra, these dyes allow for simultaneous voltage imaging and optogenetic control—enabling you to study action potential dynamics without any interference between the reporter and actuator. This is a true game-changer for real-time, all-optical monitoring of cardiac function.
Yan, P. et al. (2023) PubMed
Visualizing the Breakthrough:
The figure shows how EF730 dyes resolve cardiac action potential with precision and how their long-wavelength spectra enable deeper tissue penetration without signal interference.
Panel A: Displays the light spectrum used to activate ChR2, alongside the spectra for ElectroFluor730p™ dye.
Panels B and C: Show images of mouse hearts stained with ElectroFluor730p™. In ChR2 hearts, light stimulation (blue at 470 nm) at the apex causes APs, while in control hearts, APs occur naturally. Fluorescent signals were recorded from three areas of the heart, with light-induced interference seen only at the stimulation site.
Panel D: shows optical mapping of the heart during different stimulation locations (apex, base, middle, and whole ventricle). The maps track how the electrical signal spreads across the heart.
Why Does This Matter?
This new class of VSDs is opening doors to more accurate, deeper, and artifact-free optical mapping of the heart’s electrical activity. With potential applications in arrhythmia research, drug development, and real-time monitoring of cardiac function, these advances could significantly improve how we diagnose and treat heart conditions.