Optogenetic Pacing: Current Insights and Future Potential

: Optogenetics combines the biological techniques of optics and genetics and uses light to control the activities of living tissues such as neurons and heart. Optogenetic actuators like channelrhodopsin (ChR), halorhodopsin (NpHR), and archaerhodopsin (bacterio-opsin) provide specificity for neuronal or cardiac controls, and the field has made much progress in heart research since its introduction almost a decade ago. This review will provide information about the history, research highlights and clinical applications of optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology. The clinical translation of cardiac optogenetics will be towards human and larger mammalian animal model applications and ultimately optogenetics may have the power to restore normal heart rhythm and greatly improve quality of life.