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Updated: May 6, 2026

A Hydrogel Construct and Fibrin-based Glue Approach to Deliver Therapeutics in a Murine Myocardial Infarction Model.
Published on: June 14, 2015
Advanced Cardiac Patches for the Treatment of Myocardial Infarction
Tailuo Liu1,2,3, Ying Hao1, Zixuan Zhang4
1Laboratory of Cardiac Structure and Function, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (T.L., Y.H., H.Z., S.P., D.Z., Y.C., M.C.), West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China.
Insights
Cardiac patches offer a promising solution for myocardial infarction (MI), a leading cause of heart failure. This review explores patch materials and fabrication for improved cardiac restoration.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Myocardial infarction (MI) leads to heart failure through ischemia/reperfusion injury, inflammation, fibrosis, and ventricular remodeling.
- Current therapies improve short-term survival but have limited long-term efficacy in restoring cardiac function.
- Cardiac patches are emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy for myocardial infarction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the pathophysiological progression of myocardial infarction to heart failure.
- To highlight therapeutic targets and various cardiac patch strategies for cardiac restoration.
- To discuss scaffold materials, fabrication techniques, properties, and delivery strategies for cardiac patches.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of pathophysiological mechanisms of myocardial infarction and heart failure.
- Analysis of current and emerging cardiac patch technologies.
- Evaluation of scaffold materials (synthetic, natural, conductive) and fabrication methods.
- Assessment of advanced delivery strategies and optimal patch properties.
Main Results:
- Cardiac patches provide mechanical reinforcement, electrical conduction, and localized therapeutic delivery.
- Scaffold materials, fabrication techniques, and delivery strategies significantly influence patch efficacy.
- Various approaches are being explored to promote cardiac restoration post-myocardial infarction.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac patches represent a significant advancement in treating myocardial infarction and preventing heart failure.
- Further research into limitations and prospects is crucial for clinical translation of innovative cardiac patch products.
- Optimized cardiac patches hold potential for long-lasting improvements in cardiac function and patient outcomes.
Abstract:
Myocardial infarction is a cardiovascular disease characterized by a high incidence rate and mortality. It leads to various cardiac pathophysiological changes, including ischemia/reperfusion injury, inflammation, fibrosis, and ventricular remodeling, which ultimately result in heart failure and pose a significant threat to global health. Although clinical reperfusion therapies and conventional pharmacological interventions improve emergency survival rates and short-term prognoses, they are still limited in providing long-lasting improvements in cardiac function or reversing pathological progression. Recently, cardiac patches have gained considerable attention as a promising therapy for myocardial infarction. These patches consist of scaffolds or loaded therapeutic agents that provide mechanical reinforcement, synchronous electrical conduction, and localized delivery within the infarct zone to promote cardiac restoration. This review elucidates the pathophysiological progression from myocardial infarction to heart failure, highlighting therapeutic targets and various cardiac patches. The review considers the primary scaffold materials, including synthetic, natural, and conductive materials, and the prevalent fabrication techniques and optimal properties of the patch, as well as advanced delivery strategies. Last, the current limitations and prospects of cardiac patch research are considered, with the goal of shedding light on innovative products poised for clinical application.
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