Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Biological pacemakers need not replace battery, can approach magnetic field, and has automatic reaction to the neurotransmitter inside the body. It is an effective method to treat cardiac conduction system disease.
OBJECTIVE: From gene treatment, cell transplantation, hormone curing to acquaint the methods of building biological pacemakers.
METHODS: Using “biological pacemaker” as a keyword in Chinese and English, a computer-based search of Wanfang and PubMed databases (2000-03/2009-03) was conducted to retrieve relevant articles. Among the 105 retrieved articles, 25 articles were included in result analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Currently, there are three kinds of methods to build biological pacemakers: gene transfection, cell transplantation and hormone cure. The research of biological pacemaker is still placed in the animal experimental step, and it has a long way to go until the biological pacemakers can be used clinically, such as how to acquire safe and efficient gene vectors, the best part for cell transplantation, how to adjust the pacing function and how to handle the immunity reject reaction, etc. We believe according to the developing of cell biology, cell electricity physiology, molecular biology and genetic engineering technology, the problems that exist currently will gradually be settled and biologic pacemakers will become an effective way to treat cardiac conduction system disease.