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Updated: Jun 28, 2025
Intramyocardial Transplantation of MSC-Loading Injectable Hydrogels after Myocardial Infarction in a Murine Model
Published on: September 20, 2020
Electrically Conductive Collagen-PEDOT:PSS Hydrogel Prevents Post-Infarct Cardiac Arrhythmia and Supports
Kaveh Roshanbinfar1, Miriam Schiffer2, Esther Carls3
1Experimental Renal and Cardiovascular Research, Department of Nephropathology, Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
Insights
A novel injectable hydrogel made of collagen and PEDOT:PSS protects hearts from ventricular tachycardia after myocardial infarction. This biomaterial also supports human induced pluripotent stem cell-cardiomyocytes for cardiac repair.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Cardiovascular Research
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Myocardial infarction (MI) leads to cell death, electrical instability, and heart failure, with sudden cardiac deaths (SCD) accounting for 50-60% of fatalities.
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are primary for SCD prevention but can worsen cardiac remodeling and do not prevent arrhythmias.
- Existing treatments for MI have limitations in addressing both electrical instability and tissue regeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an injectable collagen-PEDOT:PSS hydrogel as a therapeutic for infarcted hearts.
- To investigate the hydrogel's ability to prevent ventricular tachycardia (VT) and support cardiac remuscularization.
- To assess the impact of the hydrogel on human induced pluripotent stem cell-cardiomyocyte (hiPSC-CM) function and maturation.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of an injectable hydrogel composite using collagen and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS).
- Characterization of the hydrogel's physical, electrical, and mechanical properties, including its effect on hiPSC-CMs.
- In vivo testing of the hydrogel in a mouse model of myocardial infarction to evaluate its efficacy in preventing VT.
Main Results:
- The collagen-PEDOT:PSS hydrogel demonstrated improved gel formation, micromorphology, and conductivity.
- hiPSC-CMs cultured within the hydrogel exhibited enhanced maturation, contractility, calcium handling, and conduction velocity.
- Injection of the hydrogel into infarcted mouse hearts significantly reduced ventricular tachycardia to levels observed in healthy hearts.
Conclusions:
- The injectable collagen-PEDOT:PSS hydrogel is a promising therapeutic platform for protecting the infarcted heart against life-threatening arrhythmias.
- Combining the hydrogel with hiPSC-CMs promotes cardiac tissue maturation and function, offering potential for partial cardiac remuscularization.
- This innovative biomaterial presents a versatile approach to treating cardiac injuries and preventing sudden cardiac death.
Abstract:
Myocardial infarction (MI) causes cell death, disrupts electrical activity, triggers arrhythmia, and results in heart failure, whereby 50-60% of MI-associated deaths manifest as sudden cardiac deaths (SCD). The most effective therapy for SCD prevention is implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). However, ICDs contribute to adverse remodeling and disease progression and do not prevent arrhythmia. This work develops an injectable collagen-PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate) hydrogel that protects infarcted hearts against ventricular tachycardia (VT) and can be combined with human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-cardiomyocytes to promote partial cardiac remuscularization. PEDOT:PSS improves collagen gel formation, micromorphology, and conductivity. hiPSC-cardiomyocytes in collagen-PEDOT:PSS hydrogels exhibit near-adult sarcomeric length, improved contractility, enhanced calcium handling, and conduction velocity. RNA-sequencing data indicate enhanced maturation and improved cell-matrix interactions. Injecting collagen-PEDOT:PSS hydrogels in infarcted mouse hearts decreases VT to the levels of healthy hearts. Collectively, collagen-PEDOT:PSS hydrogels offer a versatile platform for treating cardiac injuries.
