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Stem cell therapies for myocardial infarction in clinical trials: bioengineering and biomaterial aspects
Akon Higuchi1,2,3,4, Nien-Ju Ku1, Yeh-Chia Tseng1
1Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, Jhongli, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Insights
Stem cell therapy shows promise for heart attack recovery. Bioengineering and biomaterials are key to advancing stem cell treatments for myocardial infarction, overcoming research-to-application gaps.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular bioengineering
- Regenerative medicine
- Biomaterials science
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death globally.
- Stem cell transplantation offers a potential therapy for ischemic cardiomyopathy.
- Myocardial infarction treatment requires innovative approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current status of stem cell therapies for myocardial infarction from a bioengineering and biomaterial perspective.
- To compare clinical trials of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) with those of adult/fetal stem cells.
- To identify trends in bioengineering to advance stem cell therapies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of clinical trials and pre-clinical studies.
- Analysis of stem cell types used in cardiovascular research.
- Examination of biomaterial applications in stem cell therapy.
- Discussion of bioengineering strategies for myocardial infarction.
Main Results:
- Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have limited clinical trials compared to adult/fetal stem cells (e.g., bone marrow-derived).
- A gap exists between fundamental stem cell research and clinical application.
- Biomaterials play a crucial role in enhancing stem cell efficacy and delivery.
- Bioengineering innovations are essential for promoting stem cell therapies.
Conclusions:
- Stem cell therapy holds significant potential for treating myocardial infarction.
- Overcoming the research-to-application gap and optimizing biomaterial use are critical.
- Bioengineering advancements are vital for the successful clinical translation of stem cell therapies for cardiovascular disease.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death and disability in advanced countries. Stem cell transplantation has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for acute and chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy. The current status of stem cell therapies for patients with myocardial infarction is discussed from a bioengineering and biomaterial perspective in this review. We describe (a) the current status of clinical trials of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) compared with clinical trials of human adult or fetal stem cells, (b) the gap between fundamental research and application of human stem cells, (c) the use of biomaterials in clinical and pre-clinical studies of stem cells, and finally (d) trends in bioengineering to promote stem cell therapies for patients with myocardial infarction. We explain why the number of clinical trials using hPSCs is so limited compared with clinical trials using human adult and fetal stem cells such as bone marrow-derived stem cells.
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