Biomaterials Loaded with Growth Factors/Cytokines and Stem Cells for Cardiac Tissue Regeneration

Abstract

Myocardial infarction causes cardiac tissue damage and the release of damage-associated molecular patterns leads to activation of the immune system, production of inflammatory mediators, and migration of various cells to the site of infarction. This complex response further aggravates tissue damage by generating oxidative stress, but it eventually heals the infarction site with the formation of fibrotic tissue and left ventricle remodeling. However, the limited self-renewal capability of cardiomyocytes cannot support sufficient cardiac tissue regeneration after extensive myocardial injury, thus, leading to an irreversible decline in heart function. Approaches to improve cardiac tissue regeneration include transplantation of stem cells and delivery of inflammation modulatory and wound healing factors. Nevertheless, the harsh environment at the site of infarction, which consists of, but is not limited to, oxidative stress, hypoxia, and deficiency of nutrients, is detrimental to stem cell survival and the bioactivity of the delivered factors. The use of biomaterials represents a unique and innovative approach for protecting the loaded factors from degradation, decreasing side effects by reducing the used dosage, and increasing the retention and survival rate of the loaded cells. Biomaterials with loaded stem cells and immunomodulating and tissue-regenerating factors can be used to ameliorate inflammation, improve angiogenesis, reduce fibrosis, and generate functional cardiac tissue. In this review, we discuss recent findings in the utilization of biomaterials to enhance cytokine/growth factor and stem cell therapy for cardiac tissue regeneration in small animals with myocardial infarction.

Targeting angiogenesis in myocardial infarction: Novel therapeutics (Review)

“…3). Biomaterials with loaded stem cells and immunomodulating and tissue-regenerating factors can be used to ameliorate inflammation, improve angiogenesis, reduce fibrosis and generate functional cardiac tissue (78). For example, the encapsulation of VEGF in polylactic acid glycolic acid NPs improves the therapeutic efficacy of VEGF and promotes angiogenesis (79).…”

Engineering Tissue-Informed Biomaterials to Advance Pulmonary Regenerative Medicine

“…It is exciting to imagine a future where tissue-informed biomaterials can incorporate and release biomolecules to sequentially guide stem cell differentiation pathways such as integrin-binding peptides, cytokines, or small molecules (79,83). This tunability of intrinsic material properties could enable more efficient patient stem cell differentiation toward mature lung tissue.…”

3D Printing of Thermoresponsive Hydrogel Laden with an Antimicrobial Agent towards Wound Healing Applications

“…Functionalization of hydrogel networks with bioactive agents such as immunomodulating molecules [21], growth factors [22], and antibacterial agents [23] is a promising approach that can be used for fostering the wound repair process by the slow and sustained release of biomolecules at the wound bed. The selection of topical active agents is significant for the preparation of new multifunctional chronic wound healing materials.…”