Administration of cells with thermosensitive hydrogel enhances the functional recovery in ischemic rat heart

The lack of cell retention clearly represents a potentially serious limitation for therapeutic efficacy of stem cells. To enhance the efficacy, we developed a novel hydrogel that is thermosensitive and biodegradable and possesses desirable stiffness in a solid form. Immediately after induction of myocardial infarction of male rat, cardiac outgrowth cells embedded in hydrogel (HG) or saline (CO) were injected directly into the peri-infarct area. Left ventricular ejection fraction, cell retention rate, and a spectrum of biochemical markers were measured to evaluate the effect of the treatment. Left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher in the cell-injected groups (HG and CO) than in the control group at 1 week after treatment. This functional benefit was continued only in the HG group, accompanied with more retained cells. Furthermore, the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 was significantly higher in the HG group with less progression of cell apoptosis.