Stem cells cardiac patch from decellularized umbilical artery improved heart function after myocardium infarction.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Cardiovascular Research

Background:

• Stem cell therapy shows promise for myocardial infarction (MI) but requires suitable biomaterials.
• Creating vascularized 3D myocardial tissues is a significant challenge in cardiac repair.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a microporous 3D scaffold from decellularized umbilical artery for stem cell proliferation.
• To evaluate the efficacy of a stem cell (SC) patch in improving cardiac function after MI in a rat model.

Main Methods:

• Optimized decellularization of umbilical artery to create a 3D scaffold.
• Implanted a 5-mm microporous SC patch onto the infarct area of SD rats post-coronary ligation.
• Assessed left ventricular (LV) contractile function, wall compliance, and histology 4 weeks post-implantation.

Main Results:

• The SC patch integrated with host tissue, showing neo-vessel formation positive for CD31.
• Left ventricle wall thickness increased in the SC patch group compared to controls (p<0.05).
• Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improved significantly in the SC patch group (59±6.7%) versus the empty patch group (31±4.5%, p<0.05).

Conclusions:

• Implantation of the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) patch enhanced cardiac contractile function in a rat model of heart infarction.
• This artificial tissue construct from decellularized umbilical artery and MSCs offers a promising approach for MI tissue therapy.