Mucin-Based Biomimetic Patches for Dynamic Heart Repair: Auxetic Structures and Translational Challenges

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Cardiovascular Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Epicardial patches are crucial for myocardial repair.
• Current patches face challenges with adhesion and integration in the dynamic cardiac environment.
• Improving patch performance requires novel biomaterials and structural designs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review strategies for enhancing epicardial patch adhesion and integration.
• To identify promising solutions like mucin-based bioadhesives and auxetic designs.
• To address limitations in current myocardial repair technologies.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of approximately 150 peer-reviewed articles (2010-2024).
• Literature search across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.
• Thematic synthesis of studies on adhesive biomaterials, patch designs, and repair approaches.

Main Results:

• Commercial patches lack adhesion in wet, dynamic conditions.
• Mucin shows promise for wet adhesion and biocompatibility but faces translation hurdles.
• Auxetic designs improve patch flexibility and conformability, though fabrication and scalability remain challenges.

Conclusions:

• Integrating mucin bioadhesives with auxetic designs offers a path to advanced cardiac patches.
• Further research is needed to address manufacturing, reproducibility, and immunological safety for clinical translation.