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Updated: Apr 17, 2026
Coronary Artery Ligation and Intramyocardial Injection in a Murine Model of Infarction
Published on: June 7, 2011
Heart regeneration after myocardial infarction using synthetic biomaterials
S Pascual-Gil1, E Garbayo1, P Díaz-Herráez1
1Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Abstract:
Myocardial infarction causes almost 7.3 million deaths each year worldwide. However, current treatments are more palliative than curative. Presently, cell and protein therapies are considered the most promising alternative treatments. Clinical trials performed until now have demonstrated that these therapies are limited by protein short half-life and by low transplanted cell survival rate, prompting the development of novel cell and protein delivery systems able to overcome such limitations. In this review we discuss the advances made in the last 10years in the emerging field of cardiac repair using biomaterial-based delivery systems with focus on the progress made on preclinical in vivo studies. Then, we focus in cardiac tissue engineering approaches, and how the incorporation of both cells and proteins together into biomaterials has opened new horizons in the myocardial infarction treatment. Finally, the ongoing challenges and the perspectives for future work in cardiac tissue engineering will also be discussed.
Insights
Biomaterial-based delivery systems show promise for myocardial infarction (MI) treatment by improving cell survival and protein half-life. Cardiac tissue engineering offers new horizons for effective MI repair.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Myocardial infarction (MI) results in millions of deaths annually, with current treatments offering limited curative effects.
- Existing cell and protein therapies for MI face challenges like short protein half-life and poor cell survival.
- Novel delivery systems are crucial to enhance the efficacy of regenerative therapies for heart repair.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advances in biomaterial-based delivery systems for cardiac repair over the last decade.
- To focus on cardiac tissue engineering strategies incorporating cells and proteins for MI treatment.
- To discuss current challenges and future perspectives in the field.
Main Methods:
- Review of preclinical in vivo studies on biomaterial-based cardiac repair.
- Analysis of cardiac tissue engineering approaches combining cells and proteins within biomaterials.
- Discussion of limitations and future directions in the field.
Main Results:
- Biomaterial-based delivery systems have shown significant progress in preclinical studies for MI.
- Integrating cells and proteins into biomaterials represents a promising strategy for cardiac tissue engineering.
- These advanced approaches aim to overcome the limitations of traditional cell and protein therapies.
Conclusions:
- Biomaterial-based delivery systems and cardiac tissue engineering offer a promising therapeutic avenue for myocardial infarction.
- Further research is needed to address ongoing challenges and translate these findings into clinical practice.
- The combination of cells and proteins within engineered biomaterials holds significant potential for advancing MI treatment.
