Electroactive Gel-MA hydrogels delivering sustained puerarin for myocardial infarction treatment

Myocardial infarction (MI) remains a major cause of heart failure and mortality worldwide. Herein, an electrically conductive hydrogel was developed by incorporating puerarin-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNT-Pu) into a gelatin methacryloyl (Gel-MA) matrix for potential MI repair. CNT-Pu was dispersed in the Gel-MA precursor solution, followed by photo-crosslinking to form the Gel-MA/CNT-Pu hydrogel. The resulting hydrogel exhibited a porous microstructure, enhanced electrical conductivity, favorable mechanical properties and elastic recovery, and sustained puerarin release over 28 days. In vitro, the Gel-MA/CNT-Pu hydrogel exhibited favorable cytocompatibility with both L929 fibroblasts and H9c2 cardiomyoblasts, supporting its preliminary biological compatibility for myocardial applications. In a rat MI model, Gel-MA/CNT-Pu treatment was associated with reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and attenuation of fibrotic scar formation. Quantitative histological analysis demonstrated a significantly smaller fibrotic area and greater left ventricular wall thickness in the Gel-MA/CNT-Pu group than in the control group, suggesting that Gel-MA/CNT-Pu provided a multifunctional biomaterial strategy combining mechanical support, electrical conductivity, and localized drug delivery to attenuate adverse structural remodeling after MI. Further investigations were required to establish its functional cardiac benefits and long-term safety.