# Validation of Swine Model for Testing a Novel Therapy for Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation using Nanoformulated Calcium Chloride to Suppress Cardiac Ganglionated Plexi

> **NIH VA I01** · VA VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL · 2024 · —

## Abstract

The goal of this proposal is to validate the feasibility of the swine model to test our novel therapy for the
prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF). POAF is the most common complication from cardiac
surgery affecting 30%-50% of patients after coronary artery bypass grafting and/or valve surgeries. POAF
leads to increased heart failure and hospital stays, costing an excess of US$2 billion per annum. POAF is an
independent predictor of the development of AF long term. POAF is a highly prevalent issue in the veteran
population. We recently reported a 40% incidence of POAF at our institution, with a 30% 5-year risk of
recurrence of AF compared to 3% without POAF. Overactivity of the cardiac autonomic nervous system
(CANS), is an important substrate for both POAF and AF. We hypothesize that neuromodulation of CANS can
suppress POAF. We recently published in a canine model of POAF, that microinjection of nanoformulated
CaCl2 into cardiac ganglionated plexi (GP), a critical component of the CANS, during open heart surgery,
suppresses/prevents POAF. The mechanism of action is by inducing neuronal apoptosis in GP thus protecting
the heart from sympathetic surge and inducing reverse remodeling of the heart, with potentially long term
suppression of AF.7 The goals of this proposal are to (a) validate our successful canine model of POAF in
Yucatan miniature swine species (b) test the safety and efficacy of nCaCl2 for neuromodulation and
suppression POAF vulnerability in swine. Validating the swine model facilitates clinical translation of our novel
therapy with the significance of targeted, effective and safe therapy for POAF and potentially long term
suppression of AF vulnerability in a high-risk population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10725155
- **Project number:** 5I01BX004859-04
- **Recipient organization:** VA VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Alex Y Tan
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-10-01 → 2025-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10725155

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10725155, Validation of Swine Model for Testing a Novel Therapy for Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation using Nanoformulated Calcium Chloride to Suppress Cardiac Ganglionated Plexi (5I01BX004859-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10725155. Licensed CC0.

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