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Published on: July 30, 2020
Characterization of encapsulated porcine cardiosphere-derived cells embedded in 3D alginate matrices
Kaoutar Ziani1, Albert Espona-Noguera1, Verónica Crisóstomo2
1NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz 01006, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine, CIBER-BBN, Spain.
Insights
Encapsulating cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) in alginate matrices improves their retention for cardiac regeneration therapy. This approach preserves cell viability, phenotype, and function, advancing potential treatments for heart failure post-myocardial infarction.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Myocardial infarction causes significant cardiac tissue loss, with current therapies being palliative.
- Cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) show promise for cardiac repair but suffer from low engraftment and survival rates.
- Improved retention strategies are crucial for effective CDC-based cardiac regeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel method for enhancing the retention and therapeutic efficacy of CDCs for cardiac regeneration.
- To encapsulate CDCs within a three-dimensional alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate matrix.
- To assess the viability, phenotype, differentiation potential, and functional characteristics of encapsulated CDCs.
Main Methods:
- Encapsulation of CDCs within alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate hydrogel matrices.
- Assessment of CDC viability and phenotype post-encapsulation over one month.
- Evaluation of differentiation potential, gene expression, and growth factor release from encapsulated CDCs.
Main Results:
- Successful encapsulation of CDCs in alginate matrices with no decrease in viability over a 30-day period.
- Preservation of CDC phenotype, differentiation capacity, and gene expression profile after encapsulation.
- Demonstrated sustained release of growth factors from encapsulated CDCs, indicating retained functionality.
Conclusions:
- Alginate encapsulation is a viable strategy to improve CDC retention and survival for cardiac regeneration.
- Encapsulated CDCs maintain their key characteristics, supporting their potential for clinical translation in treating heart failure.
- This approach represents a significant step towards advancing CDC therapy for myocardial infarction recovery.
Abstract:
Myocardial infarction is caused by an interruption of coronary blood flow, leading to one of the main death causes worldwide. Current therapeutic approaches are palliative and not able to solve the loss of cardiac tissue. Cardiosphere derived cells (CDCs) reduce scarring, and increase viable myocardium, with safety and adequate biodistribution, but show a low rate engraftment and survival after implantation. In order to solve the low retention, we propose the encapsulation of CDCs within three-dimensional alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate matrix as therapy for cardiac regeneration. In this work, we demonstrate the encapsulation of CDCs in alginate matrix, with no decrease in viability over a month, and showing the preservation of CDCs phenotype, differentiation potential, gene expression profile and growth factor release after encapsulation, moving a step forward to clinical translation of CDCs therapy in regeneration in heart failure.
