Synthetic Matrices to Serve as Niches for Muscle Cell Transplantation

Abstract

tube formation similar to Matrigel TM . Our results emphasize not only the need to have a range of tunable matrices for cardiac cell therapy but also the importance of further characterizing the physical properties required for an ideal injectable matrix.Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel Key WordsBiomaterial ؒ Heart ؒ Cellular therapy AbstractPoor cell retention and limited cell survival after grafting are major limitations of cell therapy. Recent studies showed that the use of matrices as vehicles at the time of cell injection can significantly improve cell engraftment by providing an appropriate structure and physical support for the injected cells. Properly designed matrices can also promote the organization of the cells into a functioning cardiac-like tissue and enhance integration between the host and the engrafted tissue. Furthermore, the use of an injectable biomaterial provides an opportunity to release in situ bioactive molecules that can further enhance the beneficial effects of cell transplantation. In this article we review a large variety of biologically derived synthetic and hybrid materials that have been tested as matrices for cardiac repair. We summarize the optimal parameters required for an ideal matrix including biocompatibility, injectability, degradation rate, and mechanical properties. Using an in vivo subcutaneous grafting model, we also provide novel data involving a side-by-side comparison of six synthetic matrices derived from maltodextrin. By systematically varying polymer molecular weight, cross-link density, and availability of cell adhesion motifs, a synthetic matrix was identified that supported skeletal myo-

Nanomaterials as potential and versatile platform for next generation tissue engineering applications

“…Damage to cardiomyocytes may cause heart failure, thereby it is indeed important to develop curative drug therapies for the treatment of heart failure. Heart transplantation is thought to be the only solution for the replacement of damaged heart . However, there is a serious limitation of organ shortage for transplantation technique due to lack of graft donors and also immunosuppression .…”

Engineering Cardiovascular Regeneration

“…Instead, cells can be transplanted as 3D heart tissues that have been engineered in vitro (see below), microencapsulated, or suspended in hydrogels. The latter may be a simple solution to reduce cell apoptosis and enhance retention rate [79]; microencapsulation may further protect cells from immune defense and increase survival rate (review in [80]). …”

in vitro development of bioimplants made up of elastomeric scaffolds with peptide gel filling seeded with human subcutaneous adipose tissue‐derived progenitor cells

“…Its ultimate aim is to protect the infarcted tissue from the progressive increase in cavity dilatation, decrease in wall thickness, and deterioration of ventricular function along time . The first attempt of cell therapies was direct cell injection, but it was reported to obtain poor engraftment and viability . Cardiac Tissue Engineering (CTE) opens a new approach to address the development of cardiac tissue patches to increase cell engraftment and viability with the hope to promote the neoformation of functional myocardial tissue.…”

“…6 The first attempt of cell therapies was direct cell injection, but it was reported to obtain poor engraftment and viability. [7][8][9][10][11][12] Cardiac Tissue Engineering (CTE) opens a new approach to address the development of cardiac tissue patches to increase cell engraftment and viability with the hope to promote the neoformation of functional myocardial tissue. This can be fulfilled using different approaches: (1) Injection of biomaterials with or without cells and/or growth factors into the myocardium to generate in situ engineered cardiac tissue, [13][14][15][16] (2) In vivo implantation of in vitro engineered cardiac tissue with or without cells and/or growth factors, 3,17,18 or (3) scaffold free TE (cell sheets, cell bodies, core shell, and aggregates).…”