Exoskeleton Partial-Coated Stem Cells for Infarcted Myocardium Restoring.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Cell-based therapies for cardiac repair face challenges like low cell survival and retention.
• Abiotic materials offer potential for enhancing cellular functions and therapeutic outcomes.
• Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) present a novel class of materials for bio-integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop partially exoskeleton-coated bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) using MOFs.
• To enhance BMSC survival, function, and retention for cardiac cell therapy.
• To investigate the mechanisms of cell-exoskeleton interactions in myocardial repair.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of MOF exoskeletons for partial coating of BMSCs.
• Assessment of BMSC survival under various stress conditions (ROS, pH, osmotic pressure).
• Evaluation of cell-cell adhesion, receptor interactions (integrin α5β1), and gene expression (Vegfa, Cxcl12, Adm).
• In vivo studies using myocardial infarction models to assess cell retention and cardiac function post-intravenous injection.

Main Results:

• Partially coated BMSCs exhibited significantly improved survival in suspension and under detrimental conditions.
• Enhanced intercellular adhesion and aggregation were observed in coated cells, preventing escape.
• MOF exoskeletons interacted with integrin α5β1, modulating gene expression and biological functions.
• In vivo, coated BMSCs showed superior retention in infarcted myocardium, leading to improved cardiac function, angiogenesis, and reduced apoptosis.

Conclusions:

• Partial MOF exoskeleton coating is a viable strategy to enhance BMSC survival and therapeutic efficacy in cardiac repair.
• Cell-exoskeleton interactions, particularly with integrin α5β1, play a crucial role in augmented cellular functions.
• This approach offers a promising platform for developing next-generation nanobiohybrids for regenerative medicine.