Transforming Human Amniotic Membrane into Nanoparticles: An Approach for Cardiac Delivery Systems

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, with heart failure due to irreversible damage to heart muscle cells posing a major therapeutic challenge. Although current surgical and pharmacological interventions offer some benefits, there is an urgent need for innovative strategies to promote cardiac repair and regeneration. Recent efforts have focused on developing cost-effective, minimally invasive therapies that use controlled delivery systems to precisely target therapeutic agents, such as drugs, genes, or cells, while enhancing efficacy and minimizing side effects. Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a promising solution, offering targeted delivery with reduced toxicity. In this study, we developed amniotic membrane-derived NPs (AMPs) from decellularized human amniotic membrane (DAM). The resulting AMPs exhibited nanoscale size, mild positive surface charge, and a sustained drug-release profile, making them well-suited for cardiac applications. Encapsulation of a fluorescent dye demonstrated their efficient drug-loading capacity and potential for noninvasive imaging. In vitro and in vivo evaluations confirmed excellent biocompatibility, minimal cytotoxicity, no observable inflammatory responses, and superior retention in cardiac tissue compared to free agents. These findings position AMPs as a promising platform for targeted cardiac drug delivery, offering specificity, safety, and controlled release for next-generation heart therapies.