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Updated: Aug 12, 2026
An Injectable and Drug-loaded Supramolecular Hydrogel for Local Catheter Injection into the Pig Heart
Published on: June 7, 2015
Hydrogels as controlled delivery systems for cardiac repair and regeneration
Annalisa Perioli1, Ariana Gomes1, Rui L Reis1
13B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 4805-017 Barco, AvePark, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
Insights
New hydrogels offer hope for heart attack (myocardial infarction) recovery. These advanced materials improve drug delivery to damaged heart tissue, enhancing cardiac repair and regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases, particularly myocardial infarction (MI), are a leading global cause of mortality.
- The heart's limited cardiomyocyte regeneration capacity complicates MI treatment.
- Effective local drug delivery to the beating heart remains a significant clinical challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advancements in polysaccharide-based and supramolecular hydrogels for cardiac repair.
- To highlight the application of these hydrogels as delivery vehicles for cardiac therapeutics.
- To discuss their role in sustained local release and improved therapeutic outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature on hydrogel development for cardiac applications.
- Analysis of hydrogel properties, including polysaccharide-based and supramolecular structures.
- Examination of hydrogel-mediated delivery of drugs, bioactive compounds, and biologics.
Main Results:
- Polysaccharide and supramolecular hydrogels show promise for cardiac repair and regeneration.
- These hydrogels facilitate sustained local release of therapeutics, improving retention and efficacy.
- Enhanced delivery of cells, growth factors, and genetic material is achievable.
Conclusions:
- Hydrogel-based delivery systems represent a significant advancement in treating myocardial infarction.
- Sustained local release strategies using hydrogels can enhance cardiac regeneration and minimize side effects.
- Further development of these biomaterials is crucial for clinical translation in cardiovascular medicine.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, from which myocardium infraction (MI) is the most common one. Treatment of MI patients is difficult mainly due to the limited regeneration capacity of the heart, derived from the low proliferative activity of cardiomyocytes. Moreover, local administration and retention of therapeutic molecules is also difficult to be executed in a constantly beating heart, making the development of delivery vehicles that can retain therapeutics at the damaged heart tissue, and release them at a sustained rate, an unmet clinical need. Herein we review recent advancements in the development of polysaccharide-based and supramolecular hydrogels designed for cardiac repair and regeneration emphasising their application as delivery vehicles for various drugs, bioactive compounds (e.g., peptides, growth factors, genetic material, etc.) and biologics (cells, secretomes, etc.) to provide their sustained local release (or improved retention and survival of delivered cells) enhancing therapeutic outcomes and minimising off-target and side effects.
