In this episode, we ask: can a heartless worm model arrhythmia? Turns out — yes. Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a stand-in for cardiac muscle, researchers tested the effects of polypyrrole nanoparticles (Ppy NPs) on pharyngeal pumping rhythms, revealing fascinating insights into how bioengineered materials might impact human-like tissues.We explore:How the worm pharynx mimics cardiac functionWhy mutants with sluggish pumps were rescued by Ppy NPsLong-lasting effects, even after the nanoparticles were expelledCalcium imaging showing altered Ca²⁺ dynamics in real timeThe power of C. elegans for safe-by-design nanomedicine screening📖 Based on the research article:“Arrhythmic Effects Evaluated on Caenorhabditis elegans: The Case of Polypyrrole Nanoparticles”Sumithra Yasaswini Srinivasan, Pilar Alvarez Illera, Dmytro Kukhtar, et al.Published in ACS Nano (2023).🔗 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.3c05245🎧 Subscribe to the WoRM Podcast for more science where whole organisms meet high-tech innovation!🔗 www.veerenchauhan.com

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