MadSci Network: Biophysics |
Yes, it is possible. Some of the earliest experiments in muscle electrophysiology were done in a similar manner -- a frog muscle could be clamped at either end and stimulated directly. The resulting contraction could be use to move a lever or some other device for measuring the stength of the contraction. Of course after a few electrical stimulations, cellular pools of ATP were exhausted and the muscle would no longer contract.
Today it is possible to grow cardiac myocytes in cell culture and stimulate the layer of cells with electrical currents. The cells contract, but I know of no instances whaere they have been harnessed to carry out any sort of 'work.' However, one use of such scientific research could be to develop means for culturing heart tissue, perhaps to be used as a graft for a damaged or diseased heart - in which case the cells would be performing work.