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Updated: Sep 22, 2025
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Processing of Human Cardiac Tissue Toward Extracellular Matrix Self-assembling Hydrogel for In Vitro and In Vivo Applications
Published on: December 4, 2017
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Injectable ECM Scaffolds for Cardiac Repair
Jervaughn D Hunter1, Todd D Johnson1, Rebecca L Braden1
1Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|May 26, 2022
Summary
Injectable cardiac-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) biomaterials show promise for treating myocardial infarction (MI). Fabrication and surgical injection methods are detailed, demonstrating positive outcomes in animal models and initial human safety.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Injectable biomaterials offer minimally invasive therapy for myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure.
- Decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogels are emerging as promising cardiac repair agents.
- Previous studies demonstrated biomaterial injection improves cardiac function post-MI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present methods for fabricating an injectable cardiac-specific ECM biomaterial.
- To detail surgical injection techniques for cardiac repair.
- To highlight the potential of this biomaterial in regenerative medicine strategies.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of an injectable, cardiac-specific decellularized ECM hydrogel.
- Surgical delivery of the biomaterial into rat myocardium via a diaphragmatic approach.
- Evaluation of outcomes in small and large animal models and a Phase I clinical trial.
Main Results:
- The injectable cardiac-specific ECM biomaterial demonstrated positive outcomes in animal models.
- Initial safety of the biomaterial was established in a Phase I clinical trial.
- The described methods facilitate the testing of acellular or cell-seeded biomaterials.
Conclusions:
- Injectable cardiac-specific ECM biomaterials represent a viable therapeutic strategy for cardiac repair.
- The presented fabrication and delivery methods are effective for preclinical and clinical translation.
- This approach holds potential for future regenerative medicine strategies in cardiology.
