Autologous Cardiomyocyte Transplantation Using a Biodegradable Polymer Scaffold

Abstract

Background To achieve a more reliable way of transplanting cardiomyocytes, we conducted an autologous cardiomyocyte transplantation using a biodegradable scaffold, instead of a syringe injection, as a vehicle for transporting cells in an ovine myocardial infarction model. Materials and Methods A myocardial infarction was created in sheep using sequential ligation of the homonymous artery and its diagonal branch. Autologous cardiomyocytes from the right ventricular infundibulum were cultured and seeded onto a biodegradable polymer scaffold. Three months after creating myocardial infarction, the two animals were re-anesthetized and cardiomyocyte-seeded scaffolds were implanted in the infarcted area. The animals were kept alive for a further month, and then sacrificed for postmortem heart examinations. Light microscopic analysis and an immunohistochemical study for myoglobin were performed. Results On postmortem gross examinations, the polymer scaffolds were visible in the background of well-demarcated thin-walled anteroseptal myocardial infarcts. Microscopic analysis showed abundant myoglobin-stained cells between the fiber strands of the polymer scaffolds. However, there is a possibility that some of these cells might have been giant cells reacting to foreign material. Conclusion The transplantation of cultured autologous cardiomyocytes into an infarct region using a biodegradable scaffold instead of syringe injection provides another promising option for cardiomyocyte transplantation, which warrants further study.

Cardiac patch design: compatibility of nanofiber materials prepared byelectrospinning method with stem cells

“…Therefore, the use of stem cells with various biomaterials or coculture of stem cells in the treatment of heart damage is on rise. Some synthetic biomaterials produced for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases are polyurethane (PU), polycaprolactone, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene carbonate, and poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate (Kim et al, 2003;Xue and Greisler, 2003;Stephan et al, 2006;Niu et al, 2013). Biocompatibility of synthesized biomaterials not only depends on its noncytotoxicity; it also depends on its topography (micro, nano), the surface groups that they carry, the conformational change, and resilience against mechanical stimulation.…”