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Updated: Nov 17, 2025
Generation of Aligned Functional Myocardial Tissue Through Microcontact Printing
Published on: March 19, 2013
Application of Cell, Tissue, and Biomaterial Delivery in Cardiac Regenerative Therapy
Luis Eduardo Portillo Esquivel1, Boyang Zhang1,2
1Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada.
Insights
Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death globally. This review examines current cardiac regenerative therapies, including cell delivery and biomaterials, to repair heart tissue damaged by ischemic heart disease.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cardiology
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent the primary cause of global mortality, accounting for 31.8% of all deaths in 2017.
- Ischemic heart disease (IHD), the leading CVD, caused 8.1 million deaths in 2013 due to blocked coronary arteries.
- IHD can lead to acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and death if blood and oxygen flow to the cardiac muscle is impeded.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current therapeutic strategies for cardiac regeneration.
- To analyze the challenges and advancements in repairing heart tissue damaged by ischemic heart disease.
Main Methods:
- Examination of intramyocardial cell delivery techniques.
- Review of epicardial cardiac patch applications.
- Analysis of acellular biomaterials for cardiac repair.
Main Results:
- Current cardiac regenerative therapies show promise but face significant challenges.
- Cell delivery, cardiac patches, and biomaterials are key areas of investigation.
- Further research is needed to optimize these approaches for clinical application.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac regenerative therapy offers potential solutions for heart damage caused by IHD.
- Addressing challenges in current approaches is crucial for successful clinical translation.
- Continued innovation in cell-based therapies and biomaterials is essential for improving patient outcomes.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death around the world, being responsible for 31.8% of all deaths in 2017 (Roth, G. A. et al. The Lancet 2018, 392, 1736-1788). The leading cause of CVD is ischemic heart disease (IHD), which caused 8.1 million deaths in 2013 (Benjamin, E. J. et al. Circulation 2017, 135, e146-e603). IHD occurs when coronary arteries in the heart are narrowed or blocked, preventing the flow of oxygen and blood into the cardiac muscle, which could provoke acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and ultimately lead to heart failure and death. Cardiac regenerative therapy aims to repair and refunctionalize damaged heart tissue through the application of (1) intramyocardial cell delivery, (2) epicardial cardiac patch, and (3) acellular biomaterials. In this review, we aim to examine these current approaches and challenges in the cardiac regenerative therapy field.
