Electroconductive Graphene-Containing Polymeric Patch: A Promising Platform for Future Cardiac Repair

Abstract

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The complications associated with MI can lead to the formation of nonconductive fibrous scar tissues. Despite the great improvement in electroconductive biomaterials to increase the physiological function of bio-engineered cardiac tissues in vivo, there are still several challenges in creating a suitable scaffold with appropriate mechanical and electrical properties. In the current study, a highly hydrophilic fibrous scaffold composed of polycaprolactone/chitosan/polypyrrole (PCP) and combined with functionalized graphene, to provide superior conductivity and a stronger mechanical cardiopatch, is presented. The PCP/graphene (PCPG) patches were optimized to show mechanical and conductive properties close to the native myocardium. Also, the engineered patches showed strong capability as a drug delivery system. Heparin, an anticoagulant drug, was loaded within the fibrous patches, and the adsorption of the bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein was evaluated. The optimized cardiopatch shows great potential to be used to provide mechanical support and restore electromechanical coupling at the site of MI to maintain a normal cardiac function.

Carbon nanomaterials for cardiovascular theranostics: Promises and challenges

“… [ 40 ] rGO–reinforced gellan gum hydrogel Tissue engineering Rat myoblast (H9C2) Mechanical properties similar to the native myocardium with no cellular toxicity. [ 41 ] GO/silk fibroin hydrogel Tissue engineering Cardiac progenitor cells & human coronary artery endothelial cells Cytocompatibility, improved proliferation and survival on the hydrogel [ 42 ] Partially reduced graphene oxide foam chip Tissue engineering NRVMs Improved cell attachment, spreading, organization and beating function [ 43 ] Heparin loaded polycaprolactone/chitosan/polypyrrole/functionalized graphene cardiac patch Tissue engineering Embryonic stem cell derived embryoid bodies Improved mechanical and electrical properties with biocompatibility [ 44 ] …”

Engineering bioactive synthetic polymers for biomedical applications: a review with emphasis on tissue engineering and controlled release

“…112,113 The coherent and aligned orientation of nanofibers in electospun mats has an important effect on cell attachment and oriented proliferation, thereby greatly enabling the engineering of tissues with a highly aligned ECM, such as tendons, cartilage, NSCs, 111 and cardiac patches. 114,115 As previously discussed, a particular fiber alignment can be favored by controlling key parameters of the electrospinning process (i.e., voltage, flow rate, and mandrel rotation speed). 116 Developing fully 3D thick tissues (i.e., thickness B5-100 mm) by electrospinning has some important challenges.…”

Graphene-Based Scaffolds: Fundamentals and Applications for Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering

“…Adhesion, growth, migration, proliferation, and viability of cultured human cardiomyocytes were increased with the increase of the ratio of graphene in PCL/PGS scaffolds (Fakhrali et al, 2021). Talebi et al used electrospinning technique to fabricate highly hydrophilic fibrous scaffolds composed of polycaprolactone/ chitosan/polypyrrole (PCP) and graphene (Talebi et al, 2020). PCP-graphene scaffolds were able to more closely mimic the elasticity and electrical conductivity of the native myocardial tissue, and to support biological and functional performance of murine ESC-derived cardiomyocytes.…”

“…Talebi et al used electrospinning technique to fabricate highly hydrophilic fibrous scaffolds composed of polycaprolactone/chitosan/polypyrrole (PCP) and graphene ( Talebi et al, 2020 ). PCP-graphene scaffolds were able to more closely mimic the elasticity and electrical conductivity of the native myocardial tissue, and to support biological and functional performance of murine ESC-derived cardiomyocytes.…”