Hydrogels in Cardiac Surgery: Versatile Platforms for Tissue Repair, Adhesion Prevention, and Localized Therapeutics

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Hydrogels offer high water content, biocompatibility, and tunable mechanics, mimicking the cardiac extracellular matrix.
• They support cellular viability and integration in dynamic physiological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an integrated perspective on hydrogel applications in cardiac surgery.
• To highlight hydrogels' potential in myocardial regeneration, adhesion prevention, valve engineering, and drug/gene delivery.

Main Methods:

• A narrative literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar.
• The review synthesizes findings on hydrogel applications and challenges in cardiac surgery.

Main Results:

• Hydrogels are effective in myocardial repair, reducing infarct size and promoting angiogenesis.
• Hydrogel coatings prevent adhesions, while hydrogels serve as scaffolds for valve engineering and 3D fabrication.
• Hydrogels enable localized, sustained, or stimuli-responsive drug and gene delivery, minimizing systemic toxicity.

Conclusions:

• Hydrogels are a versatile, clinically translatable platform for addressing cardiac surgery challenges.
• Innovations in polymer chemistry and manufacturing are overcoming limitations like mechanical durability and immune compatibility.
• Hydrogels are poised to redefine cardiac surgery through tailored, bioresponsive, and functionally integrated therapies.