Biomaterials for the Treatment of Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

For nearly a decade, researchers have investigated the possibility of cell transplantation for cardiac repair. More recently, the emerging fields of tissue engineering and biomaterials have begun to provide potential treatments. Tissue engineering approaches are designed to repair lost or damaged tissue through the use of growth factors, cellular transplantation, and biomaterial scaffolds. There are currently 3 biomaterial approaches for the treatment of myocardial infarction (MI). The first involves polymeric left ventricular restraints in the prevention of heart failure. The second utilizes in vitro engineered cardiac tissue, which is subsequently implanted in vivo. The final approach entails injecting cells and/or a scaffold into the myocardium to create in situ engineered cardiac tissue. This review gives an overview of the current progress in the growing field of biomaterials for the treatment of MI.

Endothelial cells guided by immobilized gradients of vascular endothelial growth factor on porous collagen scaffolds

“…There are also mechanical alternatives for advanced heart failure: reverse remodelling strategies using either biventricular pacemakers where electrical dyssynchrony is present or external constraining mesh "jackets" wrapped around the failing heart to prevent ongoing ventricular dilatation [2]. However, researchers have reported mixed reviews and the advantage of these alternatives are not well-established [5]. Whole organ heart-transplants are another alternative, but this option is highly limited by the scarce availability of organ donators.…”

Imaging Gene Expression in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells: From Small to Large Animals

“…In those studies, only 0.2%-39% of cells suspended in liquid were retained in the myocardium within the first 1-2 hours, depending on the cell type and the delivery approach (39)(40)(41)(42). Therefore, co-administration of cells along with biopolymer scaffolds such as fibrin glue, collagen, alginate, gelatin, assembling peptides, or matrigel has recently been recommended to increase stem cell retention, as well as engraftment and survival after myocardial transplantation (43,44). Matrigel is a solubilized basement membrane preparation that polymerizes at room temperature to produce biologically active matrix material resembling the mammalian cellular basement membrane.…”

Hydrogels for Cardiac Tissue Repair and Regeneration

“…At the moment, polymers like collagen, fi brin, alginate, etc have been evaluated for their ability to form hydrogels in cardiac cell therapy/tissue engineering [5,17]. In table 1 are presented some examples of natural polymers and their principal properties.…”

“…It was discovered that injectable hydrogels offers several advantages such as: ability to self-assemble in situ, minimally invasive delivery capacity (in comparison with other methods like in vitro engineered tissue or epicardial patch implantation) and capacity to encourage host tissue regeneration [2,4]. Also, these hydrogels possess the ability to mechanically stabilize the myocardial wall and modulate left ventricular remodeling alone or through delivery of therapies, like cells and growth factors and they can deliver cells directly into the infarcted wall ( Figure 1) [4,5]. When the hydrogel is ready (gel formation) is injected at the site of interest and besides the mechanically supporting of the injured myocardium, the hydrogel present also a water-swollen matrix to encapsulate therapeutic molecules for targeted molecule delivery to the interest zone.…”