Extracellular Matrix-Based Conductive Composites for Myocardial Tissue Regeneration

Abstract

Myocardial tissue engineering strategies such as fabrication of cardiac patches for tissue regeneration offer various solutions for the loss of function developed due to myocardial infarction. Here, we combined the hybrid structure (previously obtained and combined decellularized myocardium grafts with poly­(glycerol-sebacate) polymer) with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to provide the essential characteristics for cardiac tissue regeneration. MWCNTs were doped in the cross-linked structure, and the conductivity and Young’s modulus of the composite elastomer were found as 5 × 10–3 ± 1 × 10–3 S/m and 374 ± 75.8 kPa, respectively. The cell-material interaction was evaluated, and composite structures supported cell adhesion and showed no cytotoxic effect.