Percutaneous Alginate Hydrogel Endomyocardial Injection with a Novel Dedicated Catheter Delivery System: An Animal...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Cardiovascular Research
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Alginate hydrogels show promise for cardiac tissue repair.
• Effective delivery of hydrogels to the myocardium remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and feasibility of transcatheter endocardial alginate hydrogel injection (TEAi).
• To assess the delivery of high-stiffness XDROP® alginate hydrogel using the EndoWings® catheter system in a large animal model.

Main Methods:

• TEAi was performed in nine swine using the EndoWings® catheter and XDROP® hydrogel.
• Acute assessment involved evaluating catheter access and hydrogel distribution in five animals.
• Long-term safety and efficacy were assessed via histology at 6 months and echocardiography.

Main Results:

• All nine swine tolerated TEAi without complications.
• The catheter system successfully accessed diverse endomyocardial regions, achieving circumferential hydrogel distribution.
• Histology confirmed XDROP® localization at 6 months, and echocardiography showed no adverse impact on left ventricular (LV) function.

Conclusions:

• The combination of XDROP® alginate hydrogel and the EndoWings® catheter system is a safe and feasible method for myocardial delivery.
• This technology holds potential for overcoming translational barriers in cardiac hydrogel therapy.