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Injectable Nanocomposite Implants Reduce ROS Accumulation and Improve Heart Function after Infarction
Malka Shilo1, Hadas Oved1, Lior Wertheim1
1The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel.
Abstract:
In a myocardial infarction, blood supply to the left ventricle is abrogated due to blockage of one of the coronary arteries, leading to ischemia, which further triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These sequential processes eventually lead to the death of contractile cells and affect the integrity of blood vessels, resulting in the formation of scar tissue. A new heart therapy comprised of cardiac implants encapsulated within an injectable extracellular matrix-gold nanoparticle composite hydrogel is reported. The particles on the collagenous fibers within the hydrogel promote fast transfer of electrical signal between cardiac cells, leading to the functional assembly of the cardiac implants. The composite hydrogel is shown to absorb reactive oxygen species in vitro and in vivo in mice ischemia reperfusion model. The reduction in ROS levels preserve cardiac tissue morphology and blood vessel integrity, reduce the scar size and the inflammatory response, and significantly prevent the deterioration of heart function.
Insights
A novel injectable hydrogel therapy protects the heart after myocardial infarction by absorbing harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS). This new treatment preserves cardiac tissue and improves heart function, reducing scar formation.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Research
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Myocardial infarction (MI) causes ischemia, leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cell death, and scar tissue formation.
- Current therapies for MI often struggle to fully restore cardiac function and prevent adverse remodeling.
- There is a need for innovative treatments that can mitigate ischemia-reperfusion injury and promote cardiac repair.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate an injectable extracellular matrix-gold nanoparticle composite hydrogel for treating myocardial infarction.
- To assess the efficacy of the hydrogel in absorbing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protecting cardiac tissue.
- To investigate the impact of the hydrogel therapy on cardiac function, scar size, and inflammatory response in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of an injectable composite hydrogel incorporating gold nanoparticles within an extracellular matrix.
- In vitro assessment of the hydrogel's capacity to absorb ROS.
- In vivo evaluation in a mouse ischemia-reperfusion model, assessing cardiac morphology, vascular integrity, scar size, inflammation, and heart function.
Main Results:
- The composite hydrogel effectively absorbed ROS in vitro and in vivo.
- Gold nanoparticles within the hydrogel facilitated rapid electrical signal transfer between cardiac cells, promoting functional assembly.
- Treatment with the hydrogel preserved cardiac tissue morphology, maintained blood vessel integrity, reduced scar size, and decreased inflammation.
- Significant prevention of heart function deterioration was observed in treated mice.
Conclusions:
- The injectable extracellular matrix-gold nanoparticle composite hydrogel represents a promising new therapy for myocardial infarction.
- This novel hydrogel mitigates ischemia-reperfusion injury by absorbing ROS and enhancing electrical coupling in cardiac tissue.
- The therapy demonstrates significant potential for preserving cardiac function and reducing adverse remodeling after heart attack.
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