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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
A Hydrogel Construct and Fibrin-based Glue Approach to Deliver Therapeutics in a Murine Myocardial Infarction Model.
Published on: June 14, 2015
Hydrogel engineering for myocardial infarction repair: from material design to functional mechanisms and
Chuanyi Tang1, Yu Wu1, Manlian Wang1
1National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering. Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Hydrogels offer promising solutions for heart attack (myocardial infarction) repair by supporting cardiac tissue regeneration. This review explores advanced hydrogel designs and their mechanisms for treating heart failure post-infarction.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Cardiovascular Research
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Myocardial infarction (MI) causes irreversible heart damage and high mortality, with current treatments being palliative.
- Existing therapies cannot reverse cardiomyocyte loss or repair extracellular matrix damage post-MI.
- Hydrogels show potential for myocardial repair due to biocompatibility, tunable properties, and biomimetic structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review recent advances in hydrogel engineering for myocardial infarction (MI) repair.
- To analyze hydrogel systems based on material composition and functional mechanisms.
- To provide insights and a roadmap for hydrogel-based cardiovascular regenerative medicine.
Main Methods:
- Review of hydrogel design strategies: stimuli-responsive, cell-engineered, and RNA/miRNA-loaded systems.
- Analysis of hydrogel mechanisms in myocardial repair: mechanical support, microenvironmental modulation, and multifunctional integration.
- Critical evaluation of translational barriers and future directions for hydrogel therapies.
Main Results:
- Hydrogels offer tunable mechanics, biocompatibility, and biomimetic microenvironments for cardiac repair.
- Various hydrogel platforms are being developed, including responsive, cell-based, and nucleic acid-loaded systems.
- Key repair mechanisms involve mechanical support, modulation of the cardiac microenvironment, and integration of multiple functions.
Conclusions:
- Hydrogels represent a promising therapeutic strategy for myocardial infarction, addressing limitations of current treatments.
- Further research and overcoming translational hurdles are crucial for clinical application of hydrogel-based cardiac repair.
- This review provides a comprehensive overview for researchers in biomaterials and cardiovascular regenerative medicine.
Abstract:
Myocardial infarction (MI) remains a leading cause of cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Its primary pathophysiological cascade involves the ischemic and hypoxic necrosis of cardiomyocytes (CMs), the degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and the subsequent formation of fibrotic scar, which collectively drive the progression toward terminal heart failure. Current clinical interventions, which predominantly include pharmacotherapy, device implantation and reperfusion strategies, are largely palliative and mainly focus on restoring blood perfusion or alleviating symptoms. Consequently, they fail to fundamentally reverse the permanent loss of functional CMs and the structural devastation of the ECM post-MI. In recent years, hydrogels have emerged as highly promising platforms for myocardial tissue repair and regeneration, owing to their excellent biocompatibility, tunable mechanical properties, inherent biodegradability, and highly biomimetic three-dimensional (3D) network architectures. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in hydrogel engineering for MI repair, analyzing these systems from the dual perspectives of material composition and functional mechanisms. First, we highlight the design strategies underlying major material platforms, including stimuli-responsive systems, cell-engineered platforms and RNA/miRNA-loaded hydrogels. Second, we elucidate the mechanistic roles of hydrogels in myocardial repair, emphasizing mechanical support, microenvironmental modulation, and multifunctional integration. Finally, we critically evaluate the translational barriers facing hydrogel-based therapies and outline prospective future directions. Ultimately, this review aims to provide critical insights and a strategic roadmap for the fundamental research and clinical translation of hydrogels in cardiovascular regenerative medicine. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE.
